Yves Bissouma is a man intent on making a Premier League impact.

Albion fans who have turned out in pre-season or watched games online have already seen that.

There was the moment he wrestled the ball off Anthony Knockaert to fire home a last-minute free-kick at Birmingham.

Or the bit of skill – and strength – he pulled off late in the win over Nantes after going on as sub.

As the ball dropped just inside his own half, and with Bissouma facing his own goal, he took it down on his chest, held off opponents, turned away from what looked the obvious option of a lengthy pass back to Mathew Ryan, beat a man and, having worked some space, was brought down to earn a free-kick. All right in front of the West Stand, where the fans loved it.

His new colleagues have marked out the summer capture from Lille as someone to watch. As a player with a bit about him.

But there is another plus about getting the Mali international on board, as there is about having Beram Kayal fit for the start of the season.

And that is what it can mean in terms of options, strength in depth, shape, tactics and how other players might be deployed.

Albion’s summer signings face a battle to go straight into the XI on opening day, which is no bad thing.

The Argus:

The old midfield firm of Beram Kayal and Dale Stephens

Bernardo looks the most likely starter at Watford but Bissouma will have a part to play.

And it might involve allowing Chris Hughton to give his midfield a different look.

When Bissouma went on in place of Davy Propper against Nantes, it was not to play alongside Dale Stephens.

Instead both he and Pascal Gross played ahead of Stephens, who took on very much a holding role.

The result was almost a 4-1-4-1 formation.

It is the sort of flexibility which can only help his sector of the team.

Stephens told The Argus: “I think you have got to have that.

“We have played a system we have stuck to for a couple of years now but we have Biss coming in – and Beram can play that role as well – and it’s important we can be flexible to different situations.

“Biss definitely brings that. His English has improved. He has spent a bit of time with Bongy (French-speaking left-back Gaetan Bong) in translation but he will get there.

“He has fitted in and he’s a good boy. I’m excited to play alongside him.”

Stephens and Propper were fixtures in Albion’s league line-up right through until enforced absences in March last season with Gross almost invariably ahead of them in the No.10 berth.

Fellow midfielders Steve Sidwell and Izzy Brown suffered terrible luck with injuries and Kayal was not around until December.

On top of that, Propper was new to the Premier League and took some time to find his feet.

Stephens said: “We have good competition now.

“You bring in Bissouma, who is an exciting talent.

“He is still a young boy but he is good to have around the squad.

“He can push me and Davy and Beram all the way for the starting position in this league.”

Gross is happy to slot into a deeper role if needed and knows it could happen during matches, as was the case against Nantes.

He said: “We changed a little bit with Dale in a holding position and then two No.8s.

“I think I can play both positions, ten and eight.

“I have played deeper before and we did it at times last season away from home.

“For me it’s all right. We have more quality now and we have good players.

“Everybody has to adapt if the gaffer maybe wants to change tactics if we are leading. Everyone has to be ready for that call.”

However the midfield works, Stephens will be a central figure.

He missed just two league games last season, due to injury in March when he sat out 2-0 defeats to Everton and Leicester.

Propper’s ever-present boast in the league lasted a bit longer – until he was sent off at home to Huddersfield in Stephens’ comeback match and picked up a three-game ban. Those were the only games he missed all season.

Gross played all 38 league games, of which 35 were starts. He was not left out of a league XI until the midweek trip to Tottenham in December.

He also came off the bench at Chelsea later in the month and did not leave the XI until the final day at Anfield.

While all no doubt deserved to start so many games, there appear to be more options now to change things during, for example, another busy December schedule.