Chris Hughton has bemoaned the absence of a striker on the bench as Albion missed out on the chance to grab their first Premier League win at Watford.

Tomer Hemed was the only recognised forward available to Hughton for the 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road, with Glenn Murray (ankle) joining long-term injury victim Sam Baldock (calf) on the sidelines.

Hughton turned to record signing Jose Izquierdo and fellow winger Jamie Murphy as late substitutes against a Watford side forced to play three-quarters of the match with ten men following a horror tackle by red-carded Miguel Britos on Anthony Knockaert.

Hughton told The Argus: “I thought Tomer worked very hard but you look at this division and a big part of the game is not only what you have got on the pitch but what you are able to change on the bench.

“Probably that was the one thing looking at the bench. We didn’t have that natural centre-forward and if Tomer had got injured we would have had to look at plan B, perhaps put Jose up top or Jamie Murphy.”

Albion hope to add two strikers, a defender and another keeper to their squad before the window shuts on Thursday night, while Hemed is likely to depart to the Championship.

Hughton said: “We need to make sure we have a complete squad, hopefully by the end of the window.

“It’s a tough market. All I can guarantee – and people at the club can guarantee – is that we will work as hard as we can to do that.

“We are not the only ones, a lot of clubs will be looking to do business in these last days. It will be a busy period. Prices could go up, but there are always clubs that want to move players out.”

Albion still want two strikers after potential £10 million Ghana marksman Raphael Dwamena from FC Zurich failed his medical due to a heart condition.

Hughton said: “It’s disappointing but we have to move on from there. It’s unfortunate for us and more unfortunate for the lad.”

Skipper Bruno went off at half-time at Watford with a stiff back and Hughton is unsure whether Murray will be available for West Brom’s visit on September 9.

He said: “We don’t know yet. He went over on his ankle in the last game (Leicester). We felt he would be fine for this one but he is a little bit sore, a little bit swollen. We’ll find out in the next couple of days.”