Tom Fellows making strides under new Southampton boss ahead of West Brom reunion - but in new role

It was an unsurprising move as the Saints sought to replace the departed Tyler Dibling, who left for Everton in a big-money move.

The only shock factors were the fee - Albion fans felt the jewel in their homegrown crown was worth more given Saints' bid was understood to be just north of £10m 12 months earlier - and how the Baggies went about a replacement.

The attacking addition after Fellows' late window departure - he left on August 29, four games into the season - was Samuel Iling-Junior's loan from Villa. It has not happened for Iling-Junior yet and while he can play on the right it is clearly not his forte.

Fellows, 22, endured an up and down first couple of months in Hampshire under new Southampton boss Will Still, who has since been axed.

The Albion academy graduate, who joined the Baggies youth ranks aged 10, has found a new lease of life under new boss Tonda Eckert. Six of Fellows' 10 Championship starts for the Saints have come in former caretaker Eckert's first six games.

Fellows is yet to score in Saints red and white but has three assists to his name, two in recent games under Eckert. No surprise given his ability to lay on goals in Albion colours.

Interestingly, in 32-year-old German Eckert's five-at-the-back system, Fellows has found himself in the more unusual role of right wing-back of late.

He barely featured as a wing-back at Albion and there is a suggestion such a role could shackle Fellows to an extent - but he has still been in the assists and his dribbling and mobility has caught the eye for the resurgent 11th-placed Saints.

One Saints fan posted on social media: "Tom Fellows is the definition of a player can be absolutely fantastic without collecting goals and assists. What a player, one of the best dribblers we’ve had in a while."

Another observer added: "Enjoyed Tom Fellows’ performance today for #SaintsFC. Fantastic ability running with the ball at pace. Should’ve scored, but he never stops trying."

Another Baggies product Finn Azaz, 25, who left for Villa and moved to Middlesbrough before a big-money switch to the south coast, is part of Saints' attack and has been in the goals of late.

Striker Adam Armstrong, 28, last season's high-profile Albion loanee who made just three goals in 16 games, is in red-hot form at the moment with five goals in his last four games.