Tariq Lamptey gave Albion their biggest plus of a tough evening against Manchester City.

And his boss felt he looked back to his old self.

The right-back went on with his side 3-0 down and not a huge amount to lose.

But he helped light up the second half with his attacking work down the right.

A week earlier, he had looked full of good intentions as he played his first Premier League minutes in ten months.

That was in a 0-0 draw at Norwich City.

He got into the right areas but nothing really came of it.

This time, on his first outing before a full house at the Amex, he rose to the occasion.

He delivered on those good intentions at Carrow Road and sparkled as an attacking threat.

One magical twist and turn away from Jack Grealish has already become a social media favourite among Albion fans.

The key for Graham Potter will be what comes next.

He will be wary of asking too much too soon.

Will Lamptey, for example, he part of the XI which starts at Anfield on Saturday?

Until very recently, it seemed the midweek Carabao Cup tie at Leicester would be a great chance to get minutes under his belt.

Maybe not now as he is managed on the path to full power and pushes for a starting place in the league.

It might be more prudent to save him for Anfield.

Head coach Potter said: “That’s his second appearance in a long, long time so we are trying to build his minutes up.

“I am delighted for him we have got on the pitch and we saw more of a version of Tariq than last week, which is normal.

“It’s a process for him to go through “He is getting there and we are trying to support him and it’s great to have him back.”

Solly March was another who took a chance to shine, in terms of starting rather than as sub.

He formed a wing-back pairing with Lamptey for a while last season until the latter was injured at Fulham.

March said: “The pace he has got, how quickly he moves his feet, it’s nice to have that option.

“When you get the ball you know you have got that option running in behind and you can play quick one-twos.

“It’s nice to have that different balance and dynamic on the right-hand side.”

As for March, the timing of his return is perhaps fitting.

His first away start back in the side could come at Anfield, where his 2020-21 season was ended by injury.

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March said: “I’ve been training hard and it is frustrating not starting games and a few niggles but hopefully I get a run of games now.

“I probably played three or four positions (on Saturday).

“But I’m versatile, I’m just trying to get minutes in the game.

“I did that, I’m happy.”

March said he enjoyed playing a long way forward in the second half as Albion made the running.

He added: “I like it. I enjoy playing a lot of positions.

“It is just where I can fit in and hopefully I can make an impact there. It would be nice.”

Potter always talks about his side learning from experiences and that will be key in readiness for the Anfield trip.

There will be some interesting selection decisions but March is the man in possession for now.

He said: “I think it’s a bonus to get anything from Man City or Liverpool.

“But I think we can go to Liverpool and put in a solid performance.

“Be a bit more tight at the back and hopefully we can maybe nick a point or even win like last year.”