West Brom should watch Scott Allan’s progress closely

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Scott Allan failed to make the grade at Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion but is starring at Hibernian on loan from Celtic.

Neil Lennon might just have found the answer to one of Scottish football’s most puzzling enigmas.

There is no doubt that Scott Allan has a huge amount of talent in those twinkling toes but his application and consistency have been called into question far too much in recent years.

A move to Celtic in 2015 did not work out, neither did loan spells at Rotherham and Dundee, but since returning to the club he left three years ago, Allan has been reborn.

“He took real responsibility, his football was excellent. He has put down a real marker – that’s his level,” Lennon told the Edinburgh News after Allan produced his best display in years earlier this month to inspire a 2-1 away win at Rangers.

“In the first half in particular, he was unplayable.”

In fact, Allan is starting to put together the kind of displays that encouraged West Bromwich Albion to take a chance on that exciting 20-year-old back in 2012.

Unplayable

West Brom paid £300,000 to sign the then Scotland under-21 ace from Dundee United, as reported by the Independent, with manager Roy Hodgson stating his belief that Allan would one day be a future star at The Hawthorns.

That never materialised, however. Allan returned to Scotland with Hibs two years later after failing to make a single first-team appearance for The Baggies.

But West Brom could do worse than keep an eye on the rejuvenated Allan. Alan Pardew’s side are lacking that cutting edge and creativity in central midfield; attributes the 26-year-old possesses in spades.

And with his future at parent club Celtic uncertain, a return to The Hawthorns should be considered if Allan can prove this is not another false dawn.