Tony Pulis: West Brom behind schedule in transfer window

With several senior players currently out injured, the Baggies boss finished tonight's pre-season friendly draw with Port Vale with an academy side on the pitch.

Pulis has only added Jay Rodriguez and Ahmed Hegazi to his squad so far, but had hoped to have made more signings by now.

"We need to bring about four or five players in," he said. "I was hoping that we'd get a few over the line by now and it hasn't happened.

"Everybody's waiting for it. It's not just the supporters, the manager, our own players are all waiting for new faces to come in and people to strengthen what is a small squad.

"I want to bring good players in, that's always been the aim. The chairman understands what I want to do.

"We're trying to get players in. We're trying to get these deals over the line. That's what we've got to do."

Pulis pulled out of a deal for left-back Kieran Gibbs just over a week ago when Arsenal asked for too much, and has already had several club-record bids for Middlesbrough's Ben Gibson turned down.

Albion are also interested in Barcelona centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, although Pulis refused to talk about targets.

He's eager to do business following a raft of minor injuries to Jake Livermore, James McClean, Chris Brunt, and Matt Phillips that has left his squad depleted with Gareth McAuley and James Morrison already out.

Craig Dawson is the latest player to pick up a knock, although Salomon Rondon, who also sat out last night, is not injured.

"I wanted to give Salomon a rest," said Pulis. "I thought he did really well the other day against Bristol Rovers and he's had some extra training, some extra work.

"I wanted to give Hal (Robson-Kanu) a run out for 75 minutes. We'll work with Rondon in the morning.

"Craig's got a little niggle, again it's just one of them we don't want to take a chance with."

Robson-Kanu scored just before half-time at Vale Park before Tommy Pope nodded in an equaliser four minutes from time.