MIDFIELD powerhouse Somen Tchoyi signed from from Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg for an undisclosed fee on August 20, 2010.

The versatile Cameroon international, who can play anywhere in midfield, penned a two-year contract, plus an extra year's option in the club's favour.

It brought a successful end to the Baggies' lengthy pursuit of the player.

Albion's scouting network had been monitoring the Austrian Player of the Year for the past two seasons.

And the club were able to pursue a deal for Tchoyi when a Football Review Panel at the FA agreed to endorse their work permit application on appeal.

Tchoyi needed time to catch up on his fitness when he first arrived at the club and made his debut as a late substitute in the Baggies' 1-0 defeat at Liverpool.

He was unable to pin down a regular first-team place last season but chipped in with several explosive performances and seven goals in all competitions.

His most notable display came in the final league game against Newcastle as his sensational second-half hat-trick saw Albion come from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 and secure their highest-ever Barclays Premier League finish of 11th.

Only one other player - Robert Earnshaw - has ever scored a Premier League treble for the Baggies.

Tchoyi helped Red Bull win successive Bundesliga titles.

Capped 14 times by Cameroon, he joined Salzburg in 2008 after spending the previous four years playing for Odd Greenland and Stabaek in Norway, winning the Norwegian Player-of-the-Year Award with the latter in 2007.

(LAST UPDATED SEPTEMBER 28, 2011)