Long: I'm going nowhere in January sales

As one of the star turns of the Baggies first months of the campaign, the Ireland international has been the subject of speculation.

But the 25-year-old wants nothing to do with such distractions as he focuses on continuing the most successful spell of his career to date.

Asked about stories linking – among others – Liverpool to his name he said: "I'm not looking at that. I just concentrate on my football. I am enjoying playing this role.

"It's a lone striker's job, but when you've got the likes of Zoltan Gera and James Morrison behind you, it's very enjoyable.

"I'm happy at the moment and I'll let the rumours take care of themselves. It's flattering but West Brom is a big club as well and I'm enjoying being part of what should be a great season."

And Long says the Baggies are refusing to panic about the three-game losing sequence which has followed the four-game winning run.

It has seen the club drop from third to sixth – but eyeing the chance to get back in forward motion with successive home games against West Ham and Norwich.

He said: "We don't dwell on it too much. The only bad performance we really put in was the first half against Swansea.

"Against Stoke it was just a horrible game and at Arsenal two dubious penalties cost us.

"We will learn from our mistakes but we're confident we can get back winning pretty soon. Maybe we took our foot off the gas a little bit and that midweek game at Swansea knocked us back a bit, but against Stoke and at Arsenal we felt we could win the game.

"We've still got that confidence in us so hopefully we will get that break or a little rub of the green and maybe get that winning feeling back.

"We're still fairly comfortable in the league but we want to be looking at the teams above us and trying to hang onto them rather than looking down. West Ham are doing pretty well this season and they're going to give their all but hopefully we can cause them problems."