West Brom keeper Ben Foster heaps praise on 'amazing' Ahmed Hegazi

The towering Egyptian centre-half joined the Baggies on a season-long loan from Al Ahly in the summer.

It was a left-field signing from Tony Pulis, who usually prefers to buy players with Premier League experience.

But the 26-year-old has started all six league games so far, and kept his place in the team against Arsenal despite Gareth McAuley’s return from injury.

Hegazi rewarded Pulis for keeping faith with him by putting in the standout performance in Albion’s three-man defence at the Emirates Stadium.

And he’s certainly made an impression on Foster, who has watched his defending from close quarters this season.

“He's done amazing,” said Albion’s No.1. “Nobody really knew too much about him when he came but from his first game he took to it so easy, he looked so comfy.

“To slot into the team in the Premier League as a big centre-back like he is, you think he might be limited with this and that, but he's got most of the attributes needed. He's just slotted in so quickly.”

Hegazi has been a commanding presence at the back this season apart from one mix-up with Foster at home to Stoke City that allowed Peter Crouch to steal in and score an equaliser late on.

But the Egyptian international was superb against both West Ham and Arsenal, and Foster says Hegazi has bounced back from that error swiftly.

“It's one of those things,” said Foster. “I've come out and shouted for a ball, you've got 25,000 fans there, sometimes you're not going to hear it.

“He's a very committed player, if he sees a ball he's going to go for it regardless, he's probably seen me in the corner of his eye in the last minute and he's flinched at it or pulled the clearance.

“It's just one of those things, he's a good guy, he talks a lot on the pitch as well and it’s something he's gotten over quickly.”

Albion paid Al Ahly a loan fee of £875,000 for Hegazi’s services this season and have an option to buy him for £3.5million next summer should they choose to.