Mulumbu: The mind games are in the past

Instincts took Youssouf Mulumbu to the top of the class.

Now the Hawthorns midfielder is relying on them again as he looks to be an A-star Albion performer once more – and help the club compete for trophies.

Mulumbu is happy enough with his solid contribution to the Baggies' latest season of Premier League progression. But he knows he has not always hit the dizzy heights of form that saw him clean up in the club's end-of-season awards a year ago.

Recent weeks have seen the 'real' Mulumbu back in action to help Albion to the best month of their Premier League history.

The 25-year-old believes he has rediscovered the winning formula – less thinking, more playing.

"When you ask too many questions, in the second you ask the question on the pitch you lose the ball or the pass goes away," said Mulumbu.

"That is the mistake I made. Maybe there were too many questions in my mind and the simple way to play football is just to think about football.

"For me it is very important to clear my mind after each game so I know what I have done well and what I could have done better.

"And I think the last couple of games have been more like the real Youssouf Mulumbu.

"But I know I can do better so I need to carry on and keep going that way.

"We've got 11 games left and if I can finish that way it will help my team and we will can be in the first half of the table.

"We have also seen Peter Odemwingie score some goals lately and I think with both of us it's about our mind.

"If we are good and well in our mind then we play better."

Mulumbu set such exacting standards in driving Albion to 11th last season, it always appeared a difficult act to follow.

So, while the current campaign has been less spectacular, the former Paris Saint Germain trainee is satisfied with his follow-up to the greatest year of his career.

"This season has been like a rollercoaster for me," he admitted. "I have had some good games and some bad ones.

"Sometimes I was tired and I think I could have done much better.

"But I am still happy because I think I am a key, main player for West Brom so that's a good thing.

"I have still played 25 games or more, so I think I deserve to say I have had a good season but it's not finished yet.

"Everything can change very quickly so I need to keep working."

Mulumbu was voted the star performer of last season following a string of all-action displays and an impressive haul of seven goals, many from a defensive midfield role.

He admitted the pressure was on to meet his own expectations, so much so that he branded his display in the 2-1 February defeat at home to Swansea as the worst in his career and is adamant he will continue with such honesty.

While team-mates James Morrison, Steven Reid and Jonas Olsson look more obvious player-of-the-season contenders this time around, Mulumbu remains a key figure in Roy Hodgson's team.

And having helped Albion establish themselves as a Premier League force, he believes their next challenge is to compete for silverware for the first time in a generation.

"I am still young. I have plenty of time to play for West Brom and hopefully to win something," he said.

"Maybe next year we can think about winning some trophies."