Albion boss Gus Poyet expects cash to be key in the Championship promotion race in January.

And he is hoping to add to his squad when the transfer window re-opens in the New Year.

Albion are eighth, two points outside the play-offs, ahead of Saturday’s visit to mid-table Charlton.

Big-spending Cardiff City currently lead the way from Crystal Palace in the automatic promotion places with Leicester, another of the heavy spenders in third.

Poyet told The Argus: “I know people don’t like it but money will make the difference. If the teams at the top spend wisely in January it’s a plus.

“When QPR were doing well the directors were asking for an extra £5 million injection in January and they got it and they went up. It’s not all about money but nearly.

“I think we have got a chance to add something. We still have a month but we are ready for sure. We are always working on things in every position.”

Poyet is building towards a squad with more Premier League quality. “We are not only planning for January, we are planning for June, for the next three years, for the moment that we expect we may be in the Premier League,” he said.

“That means you need to have as many Premier League players as possible in the squad, sometimes a very experienced player who is going to stay for four or five years or sometimes a 22 or 23-year-old who you are going to have for two or three years and when you get there he is a Premier League player.

“It’s a plan and we are doing it. The problem is on a Saturday at three o’clock the plan has gone and it’s about winning that game.”

Albion’s FA Cup third round tie against Newcastle at The Amex on Saturday January 5 is live on ITV, kick-off 12.30pm.