Forgotten man Scott Allan came off the bench to make a goal for Federico Machede in Birmingham City’s home defeat by Leeds on Saturday and ended eight months of doing nothing.
The former Dundee United midfielder, who left Tannadice to join West Brom in 2012 after just eight SPL appearances, has never played for the Premier League outfit.
Allan signed for Birmingham on a season-long loan last July but started just one Championship game and hasn’t kicked a ball for them since August because manager Lee Clark claims he hasn’t worked hard enough.
West Brom refused to take him back during the transfer window but Clark says the 22-year-old has finally done enough to deserve a second chance.
“It was probably a surprise that Scott was in and around the group again,” he said. “He is a talented boy that’s the frustrating thing.
“He knows the situation in terms of he has to be better as an all-round professional but I have got to say that in the last few weeks, on the training ground and in the development games, he has done really well.
“He deserves his chance and he has given us food for thought. The frustrating thing for me is I knew there was that talent the day I signed him.
“We needed to replace the Ravel Morrison-type player that we had last year and we thought Scott would be that.
“He has the ability but he has to realise what else goes with it. Hopefully, he can still play a part for us and help us get positive results.”