Roberto Di Matteo has told Robert Koren he understands his frustration regarding his lack of first-team action. Koren has started only eight of Albion’s 15 Championship fixtures this term and yesterday told a Slovenian website he hopes for a move away from The Hawthorns in January.
The arrivals of Youssouf Mulumbu and Gonzalo Jara, plus the excellent form of Graham Dorrans, has seen Koren moved from his favoured central midfield berth out wide with the Slovenian captain disappointed his versatility has worked against him.
While Di Matteo hopes to keep Koren at The Hawthorns he admits he’ll discuss the 29-year-old’s future in coming weeks.
"When I moved here, we had a lot of central midfield players, quite a lot of them with similar ability," said the former MK Dons chief.
"That made things more difficult for everybody to get into the team.
"I've had a chat with Roko and he wants to play.
"He is at an age where he doesn't want to be on the bench and he is also the captain of his national team.
"I understand his frustration and his needs.
"But, from my point of view, I also need to have a look at what is the best possible team to win on any given day.
"I think he is a very good footballer, and I wouldn't want to lose him, but we will have to sit down and see what the best solution is for both us and him."