Albion boss Gus Poyet has told supersub Ashley Barnes he can be a £1 million striker.

Barnes came off the bench to set up Glenn Murray’s second-half equaliser and score a 90th-minute winner in yesterday’s 2-1 victory at Exeter.

He now has nine goals, two behind Murray, and Poyet said: “We are not even halfway throught the season so he could get to 20.

“Forget about Glenn, because everybodys knows about him. If Ash gets close to 20 this season his value can go up to £1 million.

“That is what I have seen people paying and then it is going to be difficult to keep players when money like that is offered for them.

“There have been players in the division who have been sold for that amount of money already, which makes life for the strikers fantastic.”

Barnes, signed permanently from Plymouth Argyle in the summer for an undisclosed fee after a successful loan spell, has been on the bench for the last four games since Albion borrowed Chris Wood from West Brom.

The 21-year-old, brought on in place of debutant Craig Noone, said: “The squad is amazing. I cannot do much more than coming off the bench and scoring.

“It’s the gaffer’s choice and we all stick by that. There are no complaints. I am happy with whatever he decides to do. He has given me the chance to be here and I cannot thank him enough for that.”

The flurry of goals for table-topping Albion’s front men over the festive period has not affected Poyet’s desire to land another marksman during the January transfer window following the £300,000 capture of winger Noone from Plymouth.

He said: “I hope they keep scoring after January if we don’t get the striker we are looking for. It’s the most difficult one, because when you talk to agents and clubs everybody is looking for the same.”