This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... 

West Brom have enjoyed a near-perfect start to the Championship season as Slaven Bilic's men sit top of the table after 11 matches.

But just like last year, they are at serious risk of hindering that with decisions made in the summer.

During the 2018/19 campaign, the Baggies enjoyed the returns from loan star Harvey Barnes as he scored nine goals and provided six assists in 26 appearances, per WhoScored.

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Until he was recalled by parent club Leicester City.

Grady Diangana this term has followed down a similar route, scoring four goals and assisting three more after joining the club on loan from West Ham.

He too has a January recall clause in his deal.

On the Chalkboard

Now the loss of the 21-year-old in January would put a serious dent in their promotion hopes, but it could potentially be even more catastrophic as it will have a considerable knock-on effect on other members of the squad such as Matheus Pereira.

The Brazilian has also been an integral part of Albion's attack this season, scoring two goals and providing four assists, per WhoScored.

Both players have started six matches and come off the bench three times to feature having both made their debuts against Luton Town at the end of August, which suggests the pair have been a key part of West Brom's impressive form.

At one stage, the Baggies were the only unbeaten side in the division until Leeds put pay to that a couple of weeks ago.

Games against Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield Town, and Cardiff City have seen the duo both either score or assist in the match, so their influence on one another clearly somewhat exists.

The pair are rather effervescent, and it wouldn't be out of the realms of possibility to suggest that if you took one player out of the equation, the other could well suffer as a result.

Albion could well have got over the line last season if Barnes had stuck around.