Chris Brunt on full circle with Tony Mowbray after boss makes emotional West Brom return

Baggies playing legend Brunt was signed by Mowbray in 2007 and the pair went on to win the title - now 18 years later the 61-year-old boss returns to take the reins from caretaker Brunt.

Brunt, Boaz Myhill and Damia Abella bring their interim stint to an end against Stoke on Saturday, where Mowbray and his assistant Mark Venus will be watching ahead of starting work.

Brunt was a key part of Mowbray's fondly-remembered Championship winning side that free-scored their way to a 100-goal campaign in all competitions, while also reaching the FA Cup semi-final.

Albion boasted a top-heavy attacking outfit in those days - a side also known for shipping goals - but Brunt believes one of the returning boss' best qualities is how he went on to adapt in his career at the likes of Celtic, Middlesbrough and Sunderland among others.

"He's just a good football man," said Brunt. "He knows everything there is to know about football. He just enjoys it, he enjoys seeing his team playing attacking football and scoring goals.

"One thing I've noticed since he left, with Coventry, Blackburn and Sunderland, he was more pragmatic. He knew his teams couldn't all play the same football we did in 2008 and he adapted.

"That's a big thing for any manager, being able to adapt to what the squad can give you. That's your job as a head coach - you're getting the best out of the players and he's more than capable of doing that.

"He was good the two years I spent with him here. He signed me, he signed Mozza. I remember thinking coming down 'yeah, this is somebody I want to play for' as a player. I'm sure he's no different now."

The emotional appointment is one to have got Albion fans recalling memorable moments under Mowbray with pictures and videos of the manager's near-three year original stint doing the rounds on social media.

One particular highlight was Brunt netting against Southampton to effectively wrap-up promotion to the Premier League.

It has gone full circle for Brunt, who in his current position of loans manager had to step up as part of the three-man caretaker team on Christmas Eve.

Asked about going full circle with Mowbray, Brunt added:  "It is probably something you'd never have thought about - I never expected, it's something I'm sure he wouldn't have either.

"You're handing over to a really experienced Championship manager who has a great record at this level. He's someone who knows and loves the football club.

"It's nice to hand it over and it's not an unknown. Sometimes it can be someone you don't know a lot about but we all know Tony and it's nice to be able to hand over to him and know he'll do a good job."

Brunt continued:  "When he left here one of the best qualities is how he went and adapted. The style when he was here was total football, a lot of passing, a lot of chances, scored a lot of goals and conceded a lot of goals."I think he found a way of getting results and winning matches and that's what you need to do in this league."