ALBION chief Gus Poyet has challenged Stephen Dobbie to be the matchwinner if he starts against Birmingham at The Amex tomorrow night.

Dobbie’s chances of making his full debut have been increased by the absence of top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith with a hamstring injury.

Poyet has not confirmed whether his deadline day signing from Swansea will be in the side from the off after two second-half substitute appearances.

But he said: “I want him to be the difference if he plays. I think he has got all the qualities to really make the differences at some points in the game.

“When it is tight and there are too many players behind the ball and if it’s a difficult kind of game he’s got something totally different.

“I would be delighted if he can show that to the fans, because I am sure everybody is excited about seeing him play well and scoring goals for us.”

Poyet believes Dobbie, pictured, can affect a match in similar fashion to the still-sidelined Vicente on the Spaniard’s sporadic appearances for the club.

“Dobbs can play in our system in four different positions,” he said. “Those four are where Vicente can play as well.

“Vicente can play wide right or left, just off the front or up front where we used him against Chelsea. “He would perform and score goals for you.

“I want him (Dobbie) to make an impact, to show on Saturday without any pressure where he can make the difference for us.”

A sixth straight win in the 5.30pm kick-off will ensure Albion stay top of the Championship, regardless of results earlier in the day.