Dowling and head coach Slaven Bilic both made it clear last month that their aim was to bring in players they felt could get them over the line in their quest to reach the Premier League. And that led to three additions all of whom have vast experience in the Championship.

Forward Callum Robinson – a player the Baggies tried to sign in the summer – was snapped up on loan from Sheffield United.

Kamil Grosicki signed an 18-month deal after Albion paid Hull £800,000 to land the Polish international winger and right-back Lee Peltier joined after his contract at Cardiff was terminated by mutual consent.

And Dowling outlined why Albion opted to sign the players they did, starting with Robinson.

“With Callum, we tried our hardest to get him in the summer from Preston,” he said. “But Premier League football was the deciding factor with Callum.

“To get the opportunity to take him on loan for the remainder of the season was something that we wanted to do straight away – and he wanted to come to us.

“The hard work we did in the summer was one of the reasons why he wanted to come to us in January. We’ve seen a small amount of the impact he can have on us.”

Prior to the window closing, Bilic made it clear he wanted to bolster his forward line. And Dowling believes Grosicki is a player who gives the team a different option.

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“(Grosicki) is something different to what we’ve got,” Dowling continued. “He’s a powerful, strong runner that knows the league.

“When we signed him I mentioned that he’s always that 7/10 player that’s got the skill and capability of producing a winning moment, be it an assist or a winning goal. At this stage of the season, when you’re going to Millwall where it’s tough, you know he’s going to be the sort of player you can rely on.”

Slaven Bilic the new Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion arrives at the stadium during his press conference with Sporting & Technical Director Luke Dowling.

With Peltier, Dowling says Albion have brought in an experienced and versatile defender that can be relied on.

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“Without being rude, Lee is at the opposite end of his career to the Dara O’Sheas and Nathan Fergusons that have been playing right-back,” he added.

“Lee has been there, seen it and done it, and for us to get someone until the end of the season with his experience and character that can play right-back, left-back, centre-half. He’s even played holding midfield.

“I’m sure there’ll be games where he starts, I’m sure there’ll be games when he comes on to help.

“We thought it was something we couldn’t pass on.”

It is Dowling, his scouting team and Bilic that identify Albion’s transfer targets.

And once that shortlist is drawn-up, Dowling says it’s his job to land the player that will best serve the club.

“When it comes to identifying players, we have got an excellent scouting team in place,” Dowling added. “We put our lists together and present them to Slaven.

“Ultimately if he doesn’t like one of them we would be stupid to keep pushing it because he picks the team.

“He will give us players he recommends and has seen.

“And then ultimately we have to go and sign the one that is best for the club. Whether that is age, price range, wages – things like that.

“It’s not just me and Slaven looked up in a room, there are a lot of people involved. And then when we identify a player, it’s down to us to get the best deal for the club.

“Look at the ones we did this window, Grosicki – £800,000 for 18 months.

“To get a player like Grosicki with his experience for that kind of money we were pleased with.”