1. His full name is a bit of a mouthful, Ali Abdullah Harib Al-Habsi.

2. He was an airport fireman after leaving school back at home in Oman.

3. He will be one of Albion's tallest players at 6ft 4ins.

4. He is a practicing Muslim, married and has one daughter.

5. He played in Norway for three seasons for Lyn Oslo before moving to England to play for Bolton.

6. Eccentric ex-keeper John Burridge brought him to England after spotting him playing for Oman under-16s.

7. He played in every round of Wigan's FA Cup triumph except the final after losing his place with a shoulder injury.

8. Patriotic Al-Habsi has played more than 90 times for Oman. He likes to have the national colours of red, green and white on his gloves.

9. He has only played once for Wigan this season, in their exit from the Capital One Cup at Albion's third round victims Burton in August.

10. His last game was for Oman in a 2-0 friendly defeat in the Republic of Ireland at the start of September.