There are a few reasons to want Neal Maupay to do well.

The most obvious is the fact he is out there representing a team you hope to see survive and thrive in the Premier League.

There’s the effort and commitment he shows in a good way, sacrifice even at times.

The fact he puts heart and soul into games - and not in a headless chicken way but within the plan with and without the ball.

His contribution in general play, helping in build-up or going wide to deliver some dangerous crosses.

The back story of playing for his home city team in Nice at the age of 16 and later taking the brave step to come to England and the Championship with his career at a crossroads.

I do not know him personally but I can vouch for the fact he is a pleasure to talk to in the context of media work. Articulate, open and honest.

He was recently recognised by his own club for his community work during the pandemic.

And no less an authority on goal-scoring than Glenn Murray has agreed with a Brentford-supporting member of the local press fraternity that he has the potential to be a 20-goal-a-season Premier League striker.

As it is, he probably won't match last term’s ten this season.

Despite a low goals return, Graham Potter retains Maupay in his starting XI.

That might reflect on the other goal-getting options in the squad or on the work Maupay puts in around the pitch.

So there are reasons to wish the man from the Côte d’Azur well.

But oh là là! Doesn’t he drive you mad sometimes?

Albion were clearly unhappy with Maupay's behaviour at Molineux. It is understood there was no provocation we could not see or hear from the touchline.

Maupay will sit out at least the next two games due to an outburst at referee Jon Moss which had Albion players and coaches rushing to intervene.

That ban could be extended after he was charged by the FA over events after the red card was shown.

Then we wait to see what business is done in the summer and how it affects Maupay and forward areas.

Potter loves trying to improve players.

He gets more satisfaction from that than from eyeing the market.

Gradual work on the training ground, development bit by bit.

It is the head coach’s favourite part of the job.

After almost two seasons as a Premier League striker, Maupay still comes across as an unpolished diamond in some respects.

A willing and intelligent worker.

Disciplined in the context of only receiving one yellow card this season.

He has been caught offside just 12 times and a personal observation is he does not tend to give away those annoying free-kicks which can relieve pressure on a defending team.

But there is still the occasional tendency to overheat, maybe rise to the bait.

Or to lose composure in front of goal in the manner you might expect of a defender who suddenly finds himself in the opposing penalty area and feels a nosebleed coming on.

Maybe the fact no one else is scoring many goals is a factor in that.

Maybe there is more pressure when it feels like every chance has to go in.

Maybe it is no coincidence that his most composed finish, at home to Newcastle, came with his team leading 2-0.

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But how often can Albion expect to be in such stress-free situations in the top flight?

Much of what we see from Maupay suggests he is happier operating in support of a main frontman.

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It’s a fair point that, in terms of fee and wages, he is not a top-of-the-range Prem striker. Far from it.

If he is to get closer to that, it will be thanks to himself and his coaching staff.

But he has hurriedly snatched at chances which a £16-20 million striker should take.

That has been the main source of frustration with him this season.

But there was something else at Wolves, just when we thought Albion’s afternoon could nosedive no further The red card was puzzling from what we could see.

It was understandable he would be annoyed at what had gone in in the second half. But to that extent?

It’s too easy to explain away the lack of composure on a Latin background. Stereotyping even.

He is ultra-competitive but all footballers are at this level.

There is a fire burning inside any Prem player. There has to be. There is also the need for ice-cool composure.

My guess would be that, for example, Joel Veltman or Pascal Gross are as competitive in nature and as passionate about their football as Maupay is.

There is a balance to strike and one would have thought Maupay is in the right place, with Potter, to get the emotional side as right as it can be.

In the meantime, he will divide opinion.

Personally, I’m sometimes surprised at how highly people rate him.

But I’m also taken aback by some of the criticism he gets.

He can improve. It’s easy to forget now there was a time when even Murray got himself sent off for stupid things, had critics within the fanbase, missed chances.

The focus though is greater when you are doing such things in the Premier League.

It is nationwide. Global. Not just the local paper and your own team’s fans.

So, potentially, are the acclaim and rewards when you get it right.

Maupay’s game is not all about goals.

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But it should be more about goals than it currently is.

The chance is there for him to be Albion’s top scorer in their best ever team.

Is he good enough as a finisher?

I don’t know (does anybody?) and I often have my doubts.

But fire and ice in the right proportions will give him his best chance.