BIRTHDAY boy Kazenga LuaLua is back in the good books of Albion boss Gus Poyet after scoring and making a difference at Charlton.

The winger, brought on midway through the second half, equalised seven minutes later with a deflected free-kick and impressed Poyet with his performance in the 2-2 draw.

It was a dramatic turnaround for LuaLua, 22 today, following a below-par display in the development team in front of the manager at The Amex against Swansea five days earlier.

Poyet revealed LuaLua had “no chance” of playing after that but told The Argus: “It changed because on Tuesday morning he was one of the best in training and on Wednesday he trained quite well, then the game dictated that he needed to play.

“He needs to be positive and he was. He didn't think “that”s it” because he had scored. It was nice that he took his chance, so he is going to have a better chance to play in the next few weeks.”

It was LuaLua’s first appearance in the first team since a jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict on a charge of affray against the former Newcastle wide man.

Poyet said: “He’s a young boy who lives on his own. Some people take that naturally and it doesn’t affect your game, some people it affects your life every day.

“There were too many things in his head and now it’s clear, so let’”s hope he can concentrate on his football.”

Right-back Bruno faces a fight to be fit for Saturday’s home game against Nottingham Forest with Albion still eighth, a point outside the play-offs. The Spaniard went off with a sore Achilles as soon as LuaLua levelled.