West Bromwich Albion will be desperate to return to the Premier League, and the appointment of Steve Bruce shows a safe if unspectacular plan to get there.

Now following a busy and important transfer window, with the likes of Tom Rogic, John Swift and Okay Yokuslu signing on permanent deals, it is clear that despite only spending a sum of £1.21m they are willing to add to their squad.

One addition that was necessary however was Brandon Thomas-Asante, brought in from League Two Salford City to add another striking option following the injury to Daryl Dike.

This last-minute deal however leaves the club wondering whether they would have been better holding onto the likes of Chris Wood, who has established himself as a fine Premier League striker in recent seasons for Burnley and now Newcastle United.

Bruce would certainly enjoy having his huge physical presence for his side, a “powerful” 6 foot 3 titan - as described by Toon boss Eddie Howe - to battle with the forwards already at the club.

Sold for a reported fee in excess of £1.25m back in 2012, the 30-year-old went on to score 78 Championship goals and an impressive 52 Premier League goals.

His goalscoring exploits across his career have seen his value rise as high as £16.2m whilst at the Clarets, and despite moving to Tyneside in a £25m move more recently, his Transfermarkt valuation has now rested at £9m.

This marks a huge increase in value from what they first offloaded him for, and given their lack of potency in front of goal now, they could use a man of his talents.

The Baggies have scored 12 in their opening eight league matches, however, five of them came in one game against Hull City.

Karlan Grant is shouldering the majority of the offensive burden, having scored four times already. That is two more than the nearest scorer of his teammates.

For comparison, another playoff-pushing side in Burnley already have two players on four goals.

In desperate need of added firepower now, West Brom will feel even more aggrieved to have lost Wood for so cheap all those years ago. They could certainly do with his talents now, having witnessed first-hand the capable striker he has grown into.