ALBION will boost their forward options by wrapping up the signing of powerful West Ham striker Frank Nouble on an initial month's loan when the emergency window opens tomorrow.

The 18-year-old will join in time to be eligible for tomorrow's league visit of Scunthorpe (ko 7.45pm).

Nouble's 28-day spell with Albion will also take in the Coca-Cola Championship fixtures against Cardiff, Bristol City, Derby, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday.

However, the 6ft 3in player won't be available for Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Reading as he is cup-tied.

Head coach Roberto Di Matteo has moved to sign the up-and-coming forward, who will wear the No.42 shirt, after losing Ishmael Miller to an ankle injury for at least two weeks and Jerome Thomas to a four-game ban.

Di Matteo said: "Frank is an exciting, young player who I am delighted to welcome to the club.

"He can play in any of the three forward positions - down the middle, wide left or wide right - and we hope the next month is a fruitful one for both the club and Frank.

"Frank's main attributes are that he is powerful, quick and good on the ball but we mustn't forget he is still very young."

West Ham signed Nouble from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee last July, when he penned a five-year deal.

He made his Hammers first-team debut as a late sub in the 2-0 win at Wolves on the opening day of the season and has gone on to make eight further senior appearances.

A former England Under-17 international, Nouble was Chelsea's leading scorer in the FA Premier Academy League last season, netting 12 times in 20 appearances, including a hat-trick against Fulham.

Nouble, who had been with Chelsea since the age of 11, also scored twice in ten Barclays Premier Reserve League games in 2008/09 and bagged a stunning goal in the FA Youth Cup victory at Manchester United.

He ended last season training under Guus Hiddink alongside the likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka. 

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