Now is the time for Luke Moore to deliver on the promise that once rightfully had him lauded as among the country's brightest young football prospects.

It is a tag that no longer accurately describes the player - especially after he stepped out of the Premier League - but the 22-year-old believes that if he can start to enjoy his football at West Bromwich Albion then his transition from prodigy to prodigious will be complete and his reputation as one of the sport's hottest properties restored.

For Moore, the two are inextricably linked: enjoyment encourages his best, which is why Aston Villa supporters have not seen him shine this season.

"It was not a difficult choice to make to leave Villa," said Moore. "Any player will tell you that they want to play football.

"It is a short career and, realistically, you do not want to spend it sitting unhappily on the bench. Anyone who has got a bit about them would want to come out and play football and I am no different. To me, leaving Villa [after seven years] is not a big deal.

"When you leave a club it is not something to sulk about. I am a grown man and I just have to get on with it."

The style of football endorsed by Albion manager Tony Mowbray was a contributing factor in Moore's decision to choose the Hawthorns as the place for his reinvention.

The chance to play regular first team football was the other, even though he is cognisant of the challenge he faces in order to consistently displace either Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar or Ishmael Miller, all of whom have proved their worth in the Coca-Cola Championship this season.

Moore said: "Competition for places is nothing new - it's part of the job and I think it is good for the team, it keeps everyone on their toes.

"I want to help the lads here continue to do what they are already doing and hopefully give them that extra push. We have got a big push now until the end of the season and I am optimistic about my future."

Moore said he spoke to on-loan Albion defender Curtis Davies, now playing at Villa, "in passing" about his prospective move to the Hawthorns and his first week with the Baggies has confirmed to the striker that he has made the right move.

"Curtis just said it was a good club to play football at and that the manager was a top man," said Moore, whose brother Stefan might soon be joining Walsall.

"What people have told me about the manager has been proved correct this week in training because I have thoroughly enjoyed my first week.

"I think Albion play decent football and the gaffer wants to play things the right way."

It would be fair to say that Moore's lofty reputation as a potential star has often over-shadowed his workmanlike but largely unspectacular performances at the top level.

He was described by Villa youth team coach Gordon Cowans as the best youngster of his age group that the former midfielder had ever worked with and, since joining Albion, Moore has frequently been likened to Kevin Phillips.

The striker pays no attention to any of it. He added: "I would hope this is the time for me to prove myself but I do not make comparisons, that is your job [journalists].

"I learnt very early on in football not to take notice of stuff like that. I got into football to play football and if I am enjoying it then you will see the best of me, it's as simple as that."

* West Bromwich Albion have dropped the price of their season tickets for the second year running.

Next season's price decrease will stand regardless of whether the club is playing in the Premier League.

The average price drop is 11 per cent, following the 20 per cent decrease last season, and will be on offer to all fans from April 30.