West Brom fans will be left confused at Southampton, Adam Armstrong developments | OneFootball

The 28-year-old has found the net in his last four Championship outings for the Saints

Southampton striker Adam Armstrong has gone from underwhelming West Bromwich Albion loanee to rejuvenated goalscoring threat in a matter of months, which surely leaves Baggies supporters questioning what went wrong last season.

The 28-year-old managed just three goals in 16 Championship appearances during his disappointing loan spell at The Hawthorns between February and May in 24/25.

But so far this season, he’s already matched his West Brom tally in seven less league games - finding the net in his last four Championship outings for Southampton, with goals coming against Hull City, Middlesbrough and Derby County.

If he keeps this up, who’s to say Armstrong isn’t on course to replicate the exceptional 24-goal haul that fired the Saints to Premier League promotion in the 23/24 campaign.

Adam Armstrong's West Bromwich Albion struggles now seem a distant memory back at Southampton

The contrast between Armstrong's current form and his forgettable stint at West Bromwich Albion could hardly be more stark.

During his time under Tony Mowbray at The Hawthorns, the striker failed to live up to expectations despite the manager's previous success in getting the best out of him at Blackburn Rovers.

Armstrong's aforementioned tally of three goals from 16 appearances represented a somewhat big disappointment for a player who had averaged 0.5 goals per 90 league minutes during Southampton's promotion-winning season.

During his final weeks at the club, the striker was eventually dropped from the starting lineup, playing just 166 minutes across his last five league appearances.

At Blackburn, Armstrong scored consistently under Mowbray's guidance, including a campaign of 28 league goals in 2020/21 - and he also scored 20 for him when the pair were at Coventry City ten years ago.

Will Still has lauded Adam Armstrong as "top-notch" at Southampton

In truth, Armstrong's resurgence at Southampton may have coincided with manager Will Still playing him out wide - in his last three league games he has started on the left.

"I think Arma [Armstrong] has been top-notch," Still commented following his goal against Middlesbrough.

"Even in the early games where he was playing as a lone striker, he created enough opportunities for himself.

"We had a chat over the break before we came back into the club. I think he's realised what he wants to do. He's come back incredibly fit.

"I don't think anyone's ever seen Arma that fit. He wants to be important, and he wants to put his mark on this Southampton team, so fair play to him," Still added.

With the clear backing of his manager, Armstrong's recent upturn in form could mean he’s starting to replicate his outstanding 23/24 season, during which he registered an unmatched 37 goal contributions.

His performances that season earned him nominations for both the PFA Championship Player of the Year award and a place in the Division's Team of the Season.

So, the forward's ability to find the net from wide positions again could prove crucial as Southampton seek to mount another promotion challenge following their Premier League relegation.

However, given the fact that Ross Stewart - who started up front against the Rams - was forced off with another injury, there is the possibility that Still could start Armstrong up front for the foreseeable.

This is because the former Lens boss doesn't seem too favourable of Cameron Archer or Damion Downs.

Archer has warmed the bench for the full 90 minutes in two of the last three matches, while Downs didn't exactly do much when he replaced Stewart at Pride Park for the last half an hour - the American only touched the ball 11 times.

As for West Brom supporters, they may well be more surprised at how Armstrong is fairing now rather than being disappointed at their club's inability to get the best out of him during the second half of last season.

His subsequent revival in Hampshire serves as a reminder for them that sometimes a change of manager and system can unlock a player's dormant potential - Mowbray couldn't get it to click in the Black Country like he had done in previous years at both Blackburn and Coventry.