Barney Stewart on grasping West Brom No.9 shirt and unknown Cyrille Regis link

It is no secret the number nine shirt carries the weight and pressure of expectation in football.

For a striker it is something of a holy grail. It signifies intentions of a main man ready to grasp the responsibility. That is the aim, anyway.

Summer Albion recruit Barney Stewart was playing university football in the seventh tier of Scottish football a little over two years ago. Indeed, last weekend’s first Championship goal against Blackburn came a few days after the second anniversary of his move into the professional game with Falkirk.

Taking such a rise into account, it has to be applauded there was not even a moment’s hesitation when the London-born Scotland youth international snatched up Albion’s heralded number nine. It even caught his parents off guard.

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Stewart, 22, carries himself with the exuberance of a youngster new to the game, without the trials - and media training - of childhood and teen years in polished academy ranks.

He is honest about his decision to take number nine, with Aune Heggebo happy to keep 19 and similar-timed signing Jimmy-Jay Morgan given 11.

Another quirk of fate is Stewart’s unknown connection to one of The Hawthorns’ great number nines. Albion signed the legendary Cyrille Regis from west London club Hayes in 1977. Stewart was an unused substitute for Hayes & Yeading United - a 2007 merger formed after dissolvement - as a wide-eyed teenager on a handful of occasions.

Stewart was equally wide-eyed when that was put to him. The frontman said: “Oh really? What are the chances?

“Well if he is legendary then I would like to have that legacy! But I’ve got to wait a couple of years for that.

“That is mental.”

Stewart was encouraged to seek out legendary Three Degrees member Regis’ mural at the end of the East Stand at The Hawthorns next time he peels away in celebration.

Scotland under-21 international Stewart has required patience to date. His first 10 appearances were cameos as a substitute before a first start against Wrexham last week, and Saturday’s goalscoring follow-up against Rovers.

The frontman and boss James Morrison have worked together closely as to how best manage Stewart’s development after a rapid rise.

There may have been a few raised eyebrows in August when Stewart’s ‘9’ shirt emerged.

He said when asked of any hesitation: “Of course not! It wasn’t offered - I actually asked. As a number nine, or a striker, I don’t know why you wouldn’t want the number nine shirt.

“At the end of the day it’s a number on the back of the shirt. As fans you see there’s a lot of history to the number, a lot of pressure, but as a striker you want to fill those boots eventually.

“So as a striker you take number nine - in my head it was a big opportunity. I’m happy for that pressure.”

While Stewart’s CV reads 10 Championship appearances, his league minutes total just 230. It felt as though a breakthrough came during the disappointing no-show in defeat at Molineux, where Stewart looked hungry from the bench.

The rangy striker followed that up with three goals in two games for Scotland’s under-21s - including a towering header - and then a first Baggies goal.

Stewart added: “Heggebo obviously gets first dibs, he’s been here the longest, I think he was happy with his shirt.

“It’s a massive deal and when I told my parents they almost didn’t believe it. But it’s a pressure I want to take on myself.

“I am a number nine and I do think I should score goals that number nines should do. I’ve just got to start proving it.”