It was a move which became available late in the transfer window, and the agonising wait which followed was pretty much unprecedented, but West Bromwich Albion have secured the signing of striker Adam Armstrong from Southampton, on a loan deal until the end of the season.

With harrowing memories of Josh-Onomah-and-Steven-Alzategate still all too fresh in the minds of this generation of Albion supporters, there is a widespread and palpable relief following the club's confirmation that they had indeed struck an eleventh hour deal with the Premier League's basement club.

Armstrong has scored 84 goals in 200 appearances under Tony Mowbray, spanning spells with Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers, and a fair share of those strikes coming at this level. Only last year, he netted 24 goals and fired the Saints back to the top flight, at the expense of Albion, who he bagged three goals against over the course of the campaign.

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Mowbray, along with Andrew Nestor and Ian Pearce, worked until late on deadline day and, having secured moves for Isaac Price, Will Lankshear and Danish wildcard Tammer Bany, they have added the proven goalscoring traits of Armstrong to their pool of final third options as Albion look to attack the remainder of this campaign and claim a top six spot.

Albion moved on Uros Racic to free up the European spot which allowed them to bring 21-year-old playmaker Bany from Randers for a decent fee, while Alex Palmer moved on to the Premier League and joined Ipswich Town in a deal which could bank Albion up to £5m. They have consequently recalled Josh Griffiths from his loan at Bristol Rovers to compete for the gloves.

It's another window under Bilkul where Albion are quite evidently changing tact in the transfer market and making a concerted effort to ensure that they sign affordable yet talented players who help to reduced the average age of the squad and present an viable opportunity to sell on for a profit.

Armstrong, though, is a classy, ready-made and proven forward option who, at 27, is in his prime and keen to work with Mowbray again - simultaneously for the betterment of Albion and their seasonal ambitions.