West Brom have struck transfer gold - Ryan Mason is being proven right after September comments | OneFootball

Aune Heggebo is in a tremendous vein of form for the Baggies at present

West Bromwich Albion head coach Ryan Mason will now hope his side can turn a corner in their season after a positive performance and 2-0 success over a much-improved Sheffield United side of late at The Hawthorns on Friday night.

Sections of the Albion fanbase had begun to grow restless with the 34-year-old, who was appointed as Tony Mowbray's long-term successor in B71 with a three-year contract in June after he previously exited Tottenham Hotspur following their decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou.

However, Mason and his players firmly shut out any pre-match criticism which came their way after two below-par away performances and defeats at the hands of Queens Park Rangers and Southampton, as a dominant second half, in particular, saw the Baggies make it seven games without defeat in B71 courtesy of goals from Aune Heggebo and Karlan Grant, with the two strikes coming within the first 11 minutes after the interval.

There is now a renewed sense of optimism that the West Midlands side can vanquish their previous inconsistencies, although the vast majority of those have come away from The Hawthorns, and that a play-off bid could be back on the cards with 25 games of the Championship campaign still remaining.

As previously mentioned, some of Mason's comments before and after matches - results depending - have often split opinion amongst a recently frustrated fanbase, with West Brom boasting a great sense of expectation whenever they find themselves residing in the second tier due to a handful of recent promotions.

However, those in the stands will be grateful that the former Spurs and England midfielder's previous words on Heggebo have certainly come to fruition, with the Norwegian now a firm favourite as his hot streak in front of goal continued against the Blades.

Last season proved to be one of inconsistency for Albion, with 19 draws, in particular, holding the club back from a second successive play-off berth.

However, so did a tally of just 57 goals - the third-lowest tally in the top half, with Josh Maja and Daryl Dike's lack of availability well-documented, whilst Tammer Bany has also struggled on the fitness front since his January arrival for £3.3m from Randers and Adam Armstrong couldn't replicate his goalscoring touch at Southampton in an underwhelming loan stint.

As such, there was plenty of excitement when, as part of a summer of mass turnover in terms of both incomings and outgoings, Albion parted with £4.75m to secure Heggebo's services on a long-term contract from Brann, where he had netted 51 times and posted 14 assists in 156 appearances.

Sometimes, there is a clear adaptation period which is needed when moving to a league such as the Championship for the first time, and that certainly applied to the 24-year-old, who has since been praised by Mason for his restless performances whilst carrying an early-season injury.

This, of course, still led to scepticism when Heggebo failed to score in any of his first five league appearances, whilst Mason attempted to reassure supporters that the goals would come, and that the two-time international should receive praise for his overall endeavour.

"Stats can't measure the character," Mason told the BBC in September.

"I don't care about that stat, in terms of the one goal, because if you would have seen his performances, they are worth more than one goal.

"In every game, he's led from the front, he's been a real focal point, he's been a point of reference for us and again, the character has been the thing that stands out the most."

After netting a consolation against Middlesbrough the following week, Heggebo endured another eight-game drought, before bursting into life of late.

Indeed, his winner against Oxford United on November 8th has sparked a run of seven goals in as many games, with two braces coming in said run against Coventry City and Swansea City.

It isn't unexpected that not all supporters will notice the work-rate of a striker when goals aren't flowing. However, those at The Hawthorns are now fully appreciative of what Heggebo offers West Brom as he is in the midst of a tremendous run of form, having also assisted Grant's strike on Friday too.

The striker has been responsible, in some form, for nine of Albion's 25 goals as a collective thus far, which is a particularly impressive feat just months after moving to a brand-new environment.

Heggebo has also scored a strong variety of goals, be it glancing headers or showcasing a poacher's instinct, like against Chris Wilder's side, having the composure to turn home George Campbell's low cross.

Such form has also helped ease the pressure on Mason, although a run of seven away defeats in eight games must be addressed as they face a Hull City side who have taken maximum points from three of their past four games on Saturday.