ALBION have handed youngsters Dwayne Samuels, Romaine Sawyers and Lateef Elford-Alliyu their first pro contracts.

The Baggies Academy trio will also be given first-team squad numbers by new head coach Roberto Di Matteo.

Wolverhampton-born Samuels has impressed in all three of Albion's pre-season friendlies with his athletic displays.

And the 18-year-old right-back, who has been with the club for five years, was a regular in the Barclays Premier Reserve League (South) last term.

Under-18s duo Sawyers and Elford-Alliyu play consistently in the Baggies' second-string and both figured recently in Albion's opening pre-season clash at Histon.

Birmingham-born midfielder/striker Sawyers has been with the club for more than seven years and finished last season on a high when he made the bench for Albion's Barclays Premier League goalless draw at Blackburn.

Striker Elford-Alliyu, who represented England in May's Under-17s European Championships in Germany, has been at The Hawthorns Academy for just over two years.

He was catapulted into the limelight when he scored from the halfway line in a pre-season game against Stafford Rangers and was then part of the first-team squad that travelled to Peterborough in the FA Cup in the 2007/08 season.

"It's very encouraging that three of our young players, who have come up through the ranks, have been rewarded with pro contracts," said Di Matteo.

"Since we've arrived at the club, Dwayne has been more involved with us, playing in all three of our pre-season games. He looks a very good prospect.

"Dwayne's a year older than the other two, and therefore a bit further ahead of them in terms of development.

"But from what we've seen in training and during the friendly at Histon, both Lateef and Romaine have also got real potential.

"All three look to have bright futures in the game."

Sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth added: "I'm delighted all three of them have been handed professional contracts.

"They all have very different backgrounds at Albion.

"Romaine has been here since he was ten and is probably one of our longest-serving players, coming up through the youth ranks.

"He has been rewarded with a professional contract for his fantastic levels of skill.

"He just needs to make sure he applies himself to the physical side of the game to make sure he pushes onto the next level.

"Lateef has been on the supporters' radar for a while after his fantastic strike against Stafford Rangers, while Dwayne has come beneath the radar.

"He was a central midfielder and we moved him to right-back about nine months ago.

"It's been a great success.

"He's really taken to his new position and he is a fantastic athlete.

"Of all the young people I've been involved with in 12 years he's probably shown the best attitude.

"He gets his head down to try and improve and if ever there's an example of how hard work and dedication to your profession can bring rewards, it's Dwayne.

"However, with all three, it's the next step on the ladder and they are far from being established footballers yet - they've got a lot of work to do.

"But we're excited about the young crop of players we've got at the club and we hope they can push on and get into the first team."

PICS (TOP RIGHT): ON THE RUN...Samuels in action; (ABOVE TOP): TWISTING AND TURNING...Sawyers in action at Histon; (ABOVE BOTTOM): RISING STAR...Elford-Alliyu powers forward

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