West Brom star’s guarantee in boss’s mind – with team-mates delighted.

Albion manager Tony Mowbray believes Saturday’s stunning goal demonstrates that new signing Adam Armstrong ensures goals. Armstrong, who turned 28 yesterday, made his Baggies debut with a magnificent opening goal in the 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. In a bustling debut with Mowbray’s side, the Southampton forward produced an instinctive finish after going close on multiple occasions. Last week’s signing of Armstrong, a seasoned Championship goalscorer, was a statement to rivals, and Mowbray revealed Albion players are relieved to now call the striker a teammate after his play-off exploits broke Baggie hearts last season.

“It doesn’t surprise me Adam scored; Adam used to score every week for me at Blackburn, 29 in one season, and a lot of goals over three seasons,” added Mowbray, who previously managed Armstrong at Ewood Park and Coventry. “As a young child of 20 with Coventry, he also scored 20 goals. In my opinion, Adam Armstrong ensures success. “It was about how long he was going to be on the pitch. He hadn’t played in a few weeks, but I was happy for him. “You can see the gang is excited that Adam is here. I know he damaged this club in the play-offs last year but the players are now delighted he’s on our team rather than the opposition. Hopefully he can keep scoring some goals.”

Meanwhile, manager Mowbray is focused on Wednesday’s visit from former club Blackburn Rovers. The manager expressed his joy with goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith after the former backup beat out recalled Josh Griffiths to face the Owls. Mowbray said of Wildsmith: “It was the fact that he’d been in every team meeting since the day I walked in, every training session, and there’s been nothing to my eye that said, ‘I don’t like the goalie, he doesn’t do this or that.'” “He was good, he kept the ball out and delivered it effectively, I didn’t see any need to play a goalie I’d never seen play – other than glancing at his (Griffiths’) clips from Bristol Rovers. There was no reason the goalie that was here wouldn’t be the goalie I put in. Why would I put a young boy here for two days between the sticks? I hope he understands that.”

The head coach conceded he might have made a different decision if Wildsmith, who made his Albion league debut, had struggled between the sticks.

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