How to get the best out of 'Championship Haaland'

"He's the Championship Haaland, isn't he?"

The words of Karlan Grant speaking to WBA TV after Aune Heggebo made it seven goals in seven games against Sheffield United on Friday.

It has been quite a remarkable turnaround for the Norwegian marksman over the last five weeks.

Prior to The Throstles' clash with Oxford United on 8 November, the summer signing from SK Brann had just one league goal to his name. Just over a month later, he has eight and is suddenly within striking distance of the Championship's top scorer, Adam Armstrong.

So why has this change in fortunes for the man they call 'The Hulk' occurred?

Ironically, it seems that not much has changed when it comes to Heggebo himself, but, instead, the other Baggies players seem to have learned how to best utilise the powerful Norwegian.

Both Grant and boss Ryan Mason spoke in post-match interviews about how connections, relationships and understanding have developed with their £4.7m striker, and that seems to be the key.

Heggebo is a bundle of energy, always showing for the ball, and he's a striker who likes to attack the space across defenders and link the play for his team-mates.

All of the above is easier to do if Heggebo is given the ball early.

Earlier in the season, that's something Albion were failing to do as they routinely passed the ball around the back before trying to cause the opposition problems through slow and probing build-up.

Simply put, this largely didn't work, and Albion, at one stage, went six and a half hours without a goal.

Once Albion finally broke that duck against Oxford, the penny dropped for Ryan Mason, and there was a clear shift in emphasis.

The ponderous build-up was suddenly gone, and Albion went from averaging 248 touches per game in their defensive third to an average of just 196 across the next six games.

In short, Albion started to move the ball from back to front with much greater urgency, utilising Heggebo as their focal point.

The striker's numbers suddenly shot up. His shots per game tripled and his xG per game quadrupled.

Friday's game against Sheffield United encapsulated this shift in approach.

Whenever Albion players got the ball, their first thought was, "can I find Heggebo", and the answer, more often than not, was yes!

Heggebo had more touches of the ball against the Blades than in any game this season, and he also racked up a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win.

So, while Erling Haaland sits pretty atop the Premier League scoring chart, who's to say his Championship counterpart won't soon be matching his achievement in the second tier?

Listen to more from Chris Hall at the Albion Analysis, external