As the dust settles following the closure of the January transfer window, there is a consensus that West Bromwich Albion's squad, pound for pound, is stronger than it was on New Year's Day. Albion have, for the second season in a row, been utterly luckless with their centre forward situation, so much so that captain Jed Wallace was utilised up top once again last weekend.

In the space of a few days, and after what was a poor collective performance and dismal result against the division's basement club in Plymouth Argyle, the landscape has changed. The outlook is wholly brighter because of the business that Tony Mowbray and owners Bilkul, along with the work of Ian Pearce and his department, have managed to conduct.

Albion completed a project of a signing in Isaac Price midway through the window, but they were required to hold their nerve and strike late in the month to haul three separate deals - and quite different transfers - over the line. Time is of the essence, and there is an ever growing list of clubs in the middle of the table queuing up to take a swipe at Albion.

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They can proceed from hereon out, though, suitably armed for the challenges ahead. The addition of Adam Armstrong is exciting for the here and now, while Tammer Bany is an unexposed wildcard who could be anything. Will Lankshear, too, will hope for a fruitful period for his own benefit. In time, Albion will recover Josh Maja and Daryl Dike and, suddenly, they appear to be as well stocked as any attack minded side in the league.

They were made to wait by the EFL, after parent club Southampton gave the green light to proceed with a deal very late in the day on Monday, but the approval arrived. Armstrong, lethal at this level, is the Baggies' to boast for the final third of the season. Doesn't Tony Mowbray know it, too?

The Albion boss has had Armstrong on two separate occasions at Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers and, with 84 goals across 200 appearances spanning those spells, this was a luxury of a signing that Bilkul could ill afford to not grant their recently appointed head coach. In sanctioning the loan, they have handed Mowbray one familiar and dangerous tool in Albion's bid to secure a play-off place - and, hopefully, the campaign to follow it.

The puzzle of how Mowbray fits all of the above in when they were all at his disposal, at a time when he himself is still getting to know in depth the squad he has inherited from Carlos Corberan, is something which he alone must solve, but there is an abundance of options - and that can be no bad thing.

Goalkeeper

There was a bit of a gamble taken in the form of the permission granted by Albion to allow first choice Alex Palmer to leave the club on deadline day. It's a sensible deal for an academy player who has banked the Baggies a fair sum and, with 18 months left on his contract, it was perhaps the right time to sell, especially when you consider what they have remaining in their academy locker.

Nevertheless, there'll initially be a little pressure on Josh Griffiths, who bears minimal Championship experience but rave reviews from elsewhere, to pick up the gloves and hit the ground running. With the embarrassment of riches in the attacking department mind you, Albion will be, with any luck, operating mostly at the other end of the pitch!

G: Josh Griffiths, Joe Wildsmith, Ted Cann, Ben Cisse

Defence

There is a flexibility in the back-line with Albion, who have been a little slacker in recent games - something Mowbray is eager to ensure doesn't become a habit after the good work implemented in the squad by predecessor Corberan. It was the reason he was happy to allow Caleb Taylor to rejoin Wycombe, so that he may play regular football again before all parties revisit the situation again in the summer.

Darnell Furlong is rock solid at right-back, and then you have four centre halves to turn into a pair - Kyle Bartley is back to challenge Mason Holgate, who can operate at right-back, and Torbjorn Heggem, who can play on the left if Callum Styles isn't available. Semi Ajayi isn't far away from returning. Paddy McNair also left the club in January.

D: Darnell Furlong, Kyle Bartley, Mason Holgate, Semi Ajayi, Torbjorn Heggem, Callum Styles, Gianluca Frabotta

Midfield

Perhaps the area which was initially taken care of and addressed before all of Albion's efforts late in the window switched towards adding the appropriate firepower. Albion freed Uros Racic from what appeared to be an unhappy spell out of the side and he relocated to Portugal. They also made the very early call to end Lewis Dobbin's loan, freeing up another loan slot which they could fill up.

There is a balance now, to the middle of the park, although Mowbray must deduce, with his horses-for-courses approach, which pair from one game to the next, dependent on opposition, are required. Do they need a player who can unlock a defence from deep with an eye for a pass? Will they need a player who can provide energy and legs for rival runners? Is there a need for a player to sit deep and patrol the line in front of the defence?

Albion added two exciting types on permanent deals in January, bringing in Price and Bany to complement their existing options.

M: Alex Mowatt, Jayson Molumby, Ousmane Diakite, Isaac Price, John Swift, Jed Wallace, Grady Diangana, Tom Fellows, Mikey Johnston, Tammer Bany, Harry Whitwell, Ollie Bostock

Attack

As mentioned, the picture has changed quite dramatically in the last week. Albion headed to Plymouth and left both Karlan Grant and Devante Cole on the bench, but ahead of the welcoming of Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, they have two more players to call on and introduce to the equation.

There is still plenty of football to be played, and a constant need for goals. There can be no complaints now about the dearth of options, a situation only strengthened by the return of injured pair Dike and Maja for the run-in.

A: Josh Maja, Adam Armstrong, Daryl Dike, Karlan Grant, Will Lankshear, Devante Cole

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