Controversial Jed Wallace, Tom Fellows call could help West Brom and Tony Mowbray spark winning run | OneFootball

Tony Mowbray should make controversial Jed Wallace, Tom Fellows call to reward the former Millwall man for his form.

With the winter transfer window finally slamming shut, West Bromwich Albion are adorned with more ammunition in their arsenal than they could have hoped for at the start of the season, forcing Baggies boss Tony Mowbray into some key selection calls.

After the injury to West Brom's leading light of this second-tier season, Josh Maja, there was valid concern about where the goals for Mowbray's free-scoring footballing philosophy would come from, with the Nigerian accountable for 12 of the Baggies' 39 this term.

As Daryl Dike remains on the sidelines with fellow frontman Maja, Jed Wallace has been the former Blues boss' port of call to occupy the number nine position, starting two of Mowbray's three matches in The Hawthorns hot seat, and was substituted on in the third.

The former Millwall man failed to secure a run of successive starts under previous boss Carlos Corberan this season, so the fact he achieved the feat still within the infancy stage of Mowbray's succession is telling of his place in the boss' plans.

However, with the deadline day acquisition of Dane Tammer Bany and the belated deadline deal of Adam Armstrong both joining Will Lankshear in Albion's striking department, the Black Country side are suddenly adorned with attacking options that should displace the substitute striker Wallace from the number nine position.

Especially considering the profile of a coup such as Armstrong, the return of a proven and prolific devastating scorer in the second tier needs no wait for an introduction, with his exploits in the division speaking for themselves.

Considering his fine-scoring display and previous link-up with the Baggies boss, Armstrong is unlikely to require any time to adjust before taking his place in the final third of the Baggies squad, as the potential of the Southampton man reprising his goalscoring role has the potential to be season-defining for the Black Country outlet, especially as the Baggies seek to bounce back from their disappointing defeat at Plymouth.

However, as the side's struggling skipper looks to finally have found some of the form that earned him the commendation, the attacking acquisitions of the club look likely to end Wallace's spell as the Albion frontman and reduce him back to a cameo capacity, something that could be helped with a controversial call.

Jed Wallace could return to the wing and compete with Tom Fellows

While some expected January may be the former Millwall man's final month as a West Brom player after the skipper's struggles at the start of the season, as previously mentioned, the arrival of Mowbray has seen a favour in Wallace's fortunes and he has paid back his boss' faith with a goal and assist in his two starts.

The complete removal of Wallace from the starting XI would therefore seem counterintuitive, especially before the winger has been given the chance to add to his tally and build a run of form, something he has previously demonstrated he is capable of in the blue and white stripes.

With Baggies hoping their season will extend beyond the end of the regular Championship season in May, a play-off pursuit will require the deployment of the full depth of the West Brom squad and Mowbray will hope he can maintain the form of as many of his players as possible, something that could be stalled within Wallace if he is removed prematurely.

Therefore, the club captain should have done enough to earn himself another successive start in the West Brom side, and now may be the perfect opportunity for him to return to the right-wing spot.

Considering the contribution of the position's primary occupant, Tom Fellows, this would be a controversial call with the Baggies academy product producing two goals and 10 assists thus far this campaign, a feat that has seen him rank at the top of the Championship assist charts and earn top-flight interest this window.

But with Fellows failing to provide in his last five starts, now may be the perfect time for the 21-year-old to earn some rest before a busy run of fixtures, especially with Wallace finding some form.

Tony Mowbray's storied success at managing young talent will be put to the test

Undoubtedly, the decision to drop West Brom's 21-year-old starlet would not be met without disappointment from Fellows, but Mowbray has cultivated a reverence as one of the finest man-managers for developing young footballers and should be able to reassure the Englishman of his place in the squad.

The former Sunderland boss operated similarly within his tenure at the Black Cats, most notably with his development of Ivorian talent Amad Diallo, whom he utilised off the bench 10 times within his 37 appearances, recognising the importance of resting young talent and deploying their capabilities within a cameo.

Fellows has already demonstrated his devastating potential after coming off the bench, with his latest goal being a strike versus Swansea after the 21-year-old joined proceedings just before the hour mark.

The pace and skill set of the attacker who has completed 33 dribbles this campaign, ranking in the top 15% of all Championship wingers, could be an invaluable tool for Mowbray when let off the leash, especially against tired legs or when the side are seeking to close out a game.

Albion have already lost 15 points from winning positions this season, and have displayed an inability to close out matches with the lack of options available to the Baggies boss, something that would have seen them even more poised to cement a play-off place.

However, with the arrival of Armstrong and an arsenal of exciting attacking talent, West Brom have had a formidable window to rival even the best the second tier has to offer. All that is left is for Mowbray to decide how he wishes to deploy it and manage the minutes of a squad he will need every inch of to sustain Baggies' play-off-place.