ALBION boss Chris Hughton has left the door open for Elvis Manu to leave in January.

The fringe striker revealed his desperation for a loan or permanent move in the New Year in a recent interview with the Dutch media.

Hughton told The Argus: “I can understand that. He’s a really good lad but it has been tough here for him.

“He has improved from last season but it has been difficult for him.

“Anything he says like that I think he would it say in the right way and also anything he says is not something that we wouldn’t already know or have already spoken about.

“If there had been an offer for him then possibly he would have gone in the summer but he’s knuckled down really well.”

Manu has struggled to make an impact since signing from his home town club Feyenoord for £1.5 million two summers ago.

The 23-year-old has never started a Championship game for Albion and was an unused subtitute again against Norwich last Saturday.

He has made 14 appearances in total, ten of them from the bench.

Manu, halfway through a three-year contract, was linked with MK Dons, clubs in Turkey and a return to Holland during the August transfer window.