Slaven Bilic braced for busy end to transfer window at West Brom

The Baggies boss is happy with the team which has been assembled in time for Saturday evening’s Championship curtain raiser at Nottingham Forest.

But he knows more players are required if they are to last the pace in a gruelling 46-match campaign. Ideally, Bilic would like to add one more player in defence, midfield and attack.

“You don’t want to overload the squad because then it is impossible to manage the boys,” he said.

“But at the same time you can’t be short and at the moment we are, a little bit.

“We are not short for Forest, or the Millwall game. We are not short for August. But it is a long season.

“It would be a shame not to add a few players on the quality team we have. Then we will be in the position, if other things click, to really challenge for promotion.”

Albion have experienced frustration since midfielder Romaine Sawyers became their fifth signing of the window. Bilic, for now, remains in a philosophical frame of mind.

He said: “In football it can be close one day and the next day far, and the ones who looked far, they are close. It is not easy.

“We see bigger clubs struggling, the clubs where money is no issue at all and they can’t get their prime targets.

“I like to be optimistic. I know we are trying and I am hopeful we are going to do it.”

Bilic, cannot wait to savour his first taste of the Championship as a head coach.

“I feel good. I feel excited,” he said. “I feel ready for the first game. We are exactly where we wanted to be.

“We know it is not about one game. If any league is about consistency and reacting to the blips, it is this league. It is an important game but this is a marathon. It is not a 100 metres race.”