Character will be as much of a consideration as ability when Albion attempt to consolidate the automatic promotion push by signing another striker during the January transfer window.

They do not want a disruptive influence, with the season ticking along so nicely and such a tight-knit squad.

They want somebody who will not only contribute on the pitch but fit in off it.

Somebody who will not sulk if they are left out after a pivotal performance. Someone like Jamie Murphy.

In Albion's last away game, at Bristol City, Murphy scored and impressed.

The Scot made his 50th league appearance for the club as a substitute in the next match, at home to Aston Villa.

Murphy, rather than Jiri Skalak, made way for the return of Anthony Knockaert following the death of the Frenchman's father.

Last Saturday, against Fulham at the Amex, the ball was on the other foot. Czech international Skalak (below) was the one to stand down as Murphy returned to the starting line-up.

The Argus: With two more potential matchwinners in Solly March and Kazenga LuaLua for company too after injuries, competition down the flanks is about to get even hotter.

Former Sheffield United and Motherwell wide man Murphy cannot be sure if he will be in the team again or back on the bench at Cardiff today - and he doesn't mind.

He said: "Any teams wants players that can help you win games and that's what all five of us have.

"If you put any of us in we are capable of winning a game for the team. We all train well, work hard and the manager goes from there, depending on who we are playing, it could be the shape the other team are playing, all that kind of thing.

"It doesn't matter if it's Solly, Kaz or a young boy coming up. We all want the same thing, to try and win.

"All I can do is my best when I'm on the park, give everything I've got in training every day which I like to think I do and be available. I think that's the mst important thing.

 

"Sometimes people go down with injuries. I've been pretty lucky in my career. I've not really had any big injuries and have kept myself available. It's all about working hard and going from there.

"It's a bigger club than I've been at before and you are going to have that, a lot of players for each position. That is what it's going to take to get promoted, it's no good having one full-back, for example, because if they get injured what do you do?

"It's fully understandable there's a big squad. It's definitely what we need as a team to help us go up."