Ian Clarkson on some striking problems for Albion's manager Bryan Robson...
Nathan Ellington has been introduced to the harsh realities of life in the Premiership over the last three weeks, as he has struggled to recapture the scintillating form that heralded his arrival.
The £3 million summer signing from Wigan had a stuttering start to life at The Hawthorns as he shook off a series of injuries to become an integral part of Bryan Robson's starting XI.
Four goals in three games ensured he was earmarked as one to watch for opposition defences and he set himself a goals target of over 20 for the campaign.
However, even though the goals dried up over Christmas, his partnership with Kanu still looked potent and the duo produced a stunning performance to dismantle Tottenham Hotspur.
But Ellington has gone off the boil in 2006; culminating in a glaring miss against Reading last Saturday treading on the ball when faced with an open goal.
With Kanu set to depart to Egypt for the African Nations Cup by Monday at the latest and Robert Earnshaw determined to leave The Hawthorns, then a crisis of confidence for his premier striker is a problem Robson could do without.
Albion face a critical two months of fixtures against the likes of Fulham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Wigan, Blackburn and Charlton.
Robson, who has been linked with a move for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, is acutely aware of the pressing importance of improving their points tally. An Ellington firing on all cylinders will only help their cause and Robson admits that Ellington will benefit greatly from ending a run of eight fixtures without a goal.
"Nathan could do with scoring a goal," said Robson. "When he first came into the team he did really well and got himself goals.
"There have been a couple of poor performances from him recently and he knows that.
"I spoke to him after the Reading game and he wants to go out on the training pitch and work hard, which will hopefully improve him.
"If the team isn't playing well then it is difficult for front men to perform. But I am not making excuses for Nathan, because, as an individual, his form has dipped over the last couple of games.
"That's the last couple of games now where the whole team hasn't been to the level we can be.
"Because of Kanu's absence, all the strikers will get their chance over the coming month so we need someone who is going to lead the line in his absence and really fight for their place."
However, Robson is looking for a drastic improvement from the majority of his squad after two below-par performances this year.
A disappointing defeat to Villa was followed with a lacklustre draw on Saturday against Reading in the FA Cup.
Robson was less than enamoured with his team and sent out assistant manager Nigel Pearson to confront the media afterwards such was his anger at their performance.
And while shock defeats for Fulham and Tottenham on Sunday, allied to unexpected draws for Birmingham and Manchester United appeased his mood somewhat, he still questioned the player's mental approach.
"I wasn't happy with our performance and I thought we were slack," explained Robson.
"The players didn't prepare themselves right mentally and that is why we didn't win the game.
"The whole thing annoyed me and I couldn't have made that any clearer to the players!
"When I look at the other results it made me calm down a bit. However, it is only Albion that concerns me and I am not bothered what other clubs are doing.
"I haven't had to question the players mental attitude very often since I have been here, as they normally do it very well
"I gave the lads a couple of days off after the Christmas period and I felt mentally tired preparing for all those games so close together. Perhaps the players did too, but it was the same for the opposition as well."
However, Robson is hoping to give his squad a boost this week with the impending signing of Ugo Ehiogu.
The England international is expected to put pen to paper on at The Hawthorns as Robson looks to bolster his squad.
Artmedia Bratislava midfielder Jan Kozak and Charleroi centre half Badou Kere will also link up with Albion to try and earn a contract this week too.
Kere arrived yesterday morning for his second trial spell and will be hoping to join Ehiogu in an Albion shirt.
"We are so far down the line with Ugo that there are only a few more details to tie up," added Robson.
"He's a big, strong defender who has got vast experience of Premiership football and is what I'd describe as an outand-out centre-half.
"He will improve our squad and I think he will be good for Neil Clement and Curtis Davies as well."
Meanwhile Albion have confirmed that Ricardo Scimeca, Andrew Johnson, Russell Hoult and Lloyd Dyer's details have all been circulated to other clubs.
All four players are available for transfer as Robson sets about revamping his squad.
