West Brom's 'almost criminal over-indulgence' brings selection poser

Head coach Mowbray surprised onlookers last time out in his selection for the clash at Leeds United when he selected creative attacking midfielder John Swift in support of striker Adam Armstrong.

Albion were good value for their point at Elland Road and Mowbray was able to boost his ranks from a strong substitute bench full of attackers. The Baggies boss labelled it "almost criminal" fellow attacker Grady Diangana was not in from the off.

"It's good, competition is really intense for those places," Mowbray said of his options.

"I find it almost criminal that Diangana doesn't start the game at Leeds because he's like a magician with the ball, it's crazy how tight he is with the ball.

"Yet I wanted to get the balance of the athleticism with (Isaac) Price and (Jayson) Molumby in the team. Swift and Diangana would've almost felt like an over-indulgence of talent, if that makes sense.

"When you play Leeds you have to run. They run and run forward. So you have to run back, tackle, be competitive and try to get that balance right."

The Baggies return to Championship action at home to mid-table QPR as the push to the top six heats up.

Eight points separate Albion and the London visitors, who hold faint outside hopes of a play-off spot.

Mowbray's bench at Elland Road included Diangana, Karlan Grant, Tom Fellows, Daryl Dike - who were all introduced - and fellow attackers Tammer Bany and Will Lankshear who did not make it from the bench.

The introduction of January signings Armstrong, Price, Bany and Lankshear have handed attack-minded boss Mowbray more ammunition for his Albion frontline as he seeks a potency the Baggies have been missing for much of the campaign.