Graham Potter has highlighted the extra dimension given Albion by a fit-again Tariq Lamptey.
The wing-back has returned to Premier League action after a ten-month absence.
But he has been employed further forward than previously in a mainly attacking role, with experienced Joel Veltman tucked in behind him at full-back.
Lamptey, pictured, has yet to complete 90 minutes since returning but caused problems, particularly in the first half, when he started against Newcastle on Saturday.
He was also a big threat going on as substitute against Manchester City and Liverpool.
Potter hinted Lamptey could revert to wing-back as he builds up minutes - or as the tactical challenge demands.
But he was happy with how the former Chelsea flyer was deployed against deep-lying Toon.
Albion’s head coach told The Argus: “It was a little bit of using Tariq’s qualities to help the team as much as we can while we are in a stage where he is not 100% because we are building minutes up.
“We wanted to use his attributes and stretch the backline.
“We thought they would be quite deep, we thought we would need runners in behind them, we thought we’d need to challenge their backline in terms of width.
“And obviously it’s easier for Tariq to do that if he doesn’t have quite so much to do defensively.
“But he can do both.”
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