When Albion drew at Bolton Wanderers at the end of September, Jamie Murphy was the only natural winger in the line-up.

The Scot's controversial red card after he slipped into a tackle led to Solly March taking over that mantle for the next three matches.

Kazenga LuaLua had been injured in training before the Bolton game. Manager Chris Hughton's flank options were limited.

Bolton head to the Amex for the return meeting on Saturday fighting hard to avoid relegation.

They have taken seven points from the last nine but they are still only off the foot of the table on goal difference.

And they are about to confront the team with the best group of wingers in the Championship.

Can anyone else better Hughton's choice of Murphy, Anthony Knockaert, LuaLua and Jiri Skalak?

Next season it will be even broader, with March back from the serious knee damage he sustained at Derby in December.

The importance of the wingers functioning well in Albion's push for promotion under Hughton was emphasised in Friday's biggest win of the season at home to Brentford.

Knockaert was man-of-the-match after opening the scoring and producing a dazzling first half display.

Murphy ran the Frenchman close, setting him up for his goal and finishing Brentford off in the closing stages with his fourth of the campaign after consistently stretching their defence.

Hughton said: "I thought he was outstanding. It is wonderful to see two wide players playing so well.

"But, as a team who generally play 4-4-2, you can’t have a team with wide players who are not prepared to work both ways.

"It is probably different if you are playing one up front or three in midfield. You can perhaps get away with it. You need a really good work ethic from both of them."

Within that appraisal is a requirement for LuaLua if he is going to win back a regular spot after the long-term groin damage which halted his explosive start to the season.

The wingers in Hughton's system need to contribute without the ball as well as in possession.

That has, in the past, been a question mark against LuaLua which prompted previous managers to use him sparingly, particularly away from home.

More recent evidence has suggested the penny has dropped. Combine that with his pace and power to beat defenders and LuaLua is sure to have a part to play in the remaining 17 games.

So too will Skalak, the Czech international signed at the end of the January transfer window.

He has been given time to settle in, watching from a seat behind the substitutes as Albion comprehensively overcame Brentford.

The situation will change, if not against Bolton then certainly straight afterwards.

Albion face three away games in a week, at Hull, Cardiff and Bristol City. Hughton, with Steve Sidwell also added to the midfield ranks, will have more scope for freshening rotation than during a similar run of matches last month, which started at Hull with a makeshift side in the FA Cup.

Albion almost signed Skalak earlier in thw window. It was a close-run thing between him and Knockaert, the latter's experience of English football with Leicester just giving him the edge.

Skalak, 24 next month remained on the radar. Albion have signed him with an eye towards the future, as well as the present.

If, as they anticipate, Skalak shines at the Euros in France in the summer - in a group including Spain with the Czechs possible last 16 opponents for England - then they will have not just a bright, young international talent but also a valuable asset.

No mention has been made yet either of Liam Rosenior's energetic dexterity. Hughton used him as a more orthdox right-sided midfielder, rather than an out-and-out winger, in the early part of the season before his switch to left-back and subsequent knee injury.

Murphy and Skalak also both have the capacity to play the number ten role, exploiting the spaces behind a main striker.

Hughton has greater flexibility now in attacking areas - and out wide he is spoilt for choice.