Greg Halford insists the age of the utility player is not dead.

But Albion’s latest loanee admits life can be confusing at times when you can play in a host of positions.

The Nottingham Forest man could make a first start for his temporary club when they return from the international break a week on Saturday.

Either Halford or Aaron Hughes will partner Gordon Greer – assuming the skipper has come through Scotland’s games safely – at the heart of defence at Norwich City while Lewis Dunk serves a one-game ban.

Halford is happy playing there. It was in central defence or right-back where he made most of his 82 league appearances for Forest.

But he admits his role at some of his nine clubs to date has been as clear as mud at times.

Halford told The Argus: “I started as a centre midfielder but I made my debut for Colchester as a right-back.

The Argus:

A young Greg Halford scores for Colchester against current Albion goalkeeping coach Antti Niemi, then of Southampton

“I continued playing right-back for a season but I was young and wasn’t consistently good enough.

“They decided to put me up front and I got my England under-21 call-up as a striker after playing maybe 30 games.

“Then Peter Taylor, the manager of the under-21s, decided he preferred me as a centre midfielder so I was back to square one.

“I have played all over. It’s amazing how many managers have different opinions on where I should play.

“I’ve asked (Forest boss) Stuart Pearce a number of times where he would like me to play and he says he really doesn’t know.

“That isn’t really helpful for me. I played the majority of pre-season as a centre midfielder and we were blessed with a lot of good centre midfielders at the club.

“It was obviously tough to break in. While I wasn’t playing in my regular positions he was bringing in other players to fill them.

“It has been tough but I was always brought up to believe that, if you can play 11 positions, there are 11 chances of getting in the team.”

Rarely was that belief better born out than during his time at Portsmouth during their days of financial crisis. His 12 goals for Pompey, six of them penalties, came from 77 games of which he started 34 at centre-back, 28 as right-back, eight as left-back, five in central midfield and two on the right of midfield.

Of course, that was an extreme situation.

There is an argument that versatility is a less sought-after trait these days when clubs have bigger squads and can name seven substitutes for a league match.

It is a theory Halford recognises – but does not really agree with.

“You could argue that,” he accepts.

“But I still think it gives the manager options on the bench if needed. If you want to go attacking you can throw me up front. If you need to go defensive you can do the opposite.

“All you need is a couple of injuries in one game.

“Not many managers put two centre-halves on the bench so, to be able to cover a number of positions is still, I think, to my advantage.”