Albion had high hopes for Vahid Hambo when 'The Finnish Zlatan' signed for them.

The striker of Bosnian descent, so-called due to similarities to Ibrahimovic in background, playing style and size, was plagued by injuries and returned to Finland without making an impact.

It has been a different story in Albion's under-23s for Ibrahimovic's fellow countryman, Viktor Gyokeres.

The 19-year-old has scored eight goals in 12 appearances for Simon Rusk's (below) promotion contenders, several of them spectacular.

The Argus: If Gyokeres maintains his progress, he could prove to be another shrewd acquisition by Albion's recruitment department.

Gyokeres was signed last September on a two-and-a-half year contract from Brommapojkarna, a deal according to reports in Sweden worth just under £1 million.

Brommapojkarna, in the western part of Stockholm, have history with English Premier League clubs.

They became affiliated to Manchester United after the transfer of Bojan Djordjic in 1999 and later with Manchester City, where former Bromma youth striker and Sweden International John Guidetti learnt his trade.

Gyokeres did not join Albion straight away. He stayed with Brommapojkarna to spearhead their push for promotion back to the Swedish first division.

He scored 13 goals in 29 league appearances, including a hat-trick on the final day, and they went up as champions.

Gyokeres also caught the eye at international level before Albion snapped him up. He starred for Sweden in last summer's European under-19 Championships in Georgia, finishing the tournament as joint top scorer alongside England duo Ryan Sessegnon and Ben Brereton, and Joël Piroe from the Netherlands.

Primarily a powerful left-winger, Gyokeres has continued his free-scoring form since moving to Albion and making his debut in January.

His latest goals came in consecutive 5-1 victories for Rusk's prospects against West Brom and Stoke.

Tonight against Wolves at Molineux (7pm) in the closing fixture of the regular season, a win will secure home advantage against Middlesbrough in the semi-finals of the promotion play-offs which also feature Aston Villa and one other.

Albion's under-23s have sparkled in Premier League division two. Since losing at Reading in January, they have reeled off six victories and a draw, scoring 21 goals and conceding three.

They also reached the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup, losing to Swansea 9-8 on penalties after Gyokeres was on the scoresheet again.

Swansea are fourth in division one, above the likes of the Manchester clubs, Spurs and Chelsea. Albion are seeking to join them in a hectic climax to the season.

A combined side usually including some players from the under-18s face Crawley in the Sussex Senior Cup final at the Amex on May 9 - the same night that the seniors visit Manchester City.

Rusk's charges are also taking part for the first time in next month's HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong.

They have been paired in the group stages with reigning champions Leicester City, together with Asian teams HKFA Red Dragons and Singapore Cricket Club.

West Ham, Newcastle and Aston Villa are also involved in the tournament at Hong Kong Football Club from May 18 to 20.

It was always going to take time for the under-23s to evolve once Albion were granted category one status for the academy at the Lancing training complex.

Rusk is highly regarded within the club and his work, together with that of the recruitment department, is beginning to bear fruit.

The Argus: Under-23s skipper Max Sanders (above left) was on the bench for Albion's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The incentive is there for Gyokeres and others if they continue to perform.