6 Sep 2004(Mon)

Just when Junichi Inamoto's future looked uncertain, West Bromwich Albion came in and gave him another chance in the English Premier League.

After his injury against England, and then his release by Fulham after two years on loan, "Ina" must have been worried about what the future held.

But clearly he had done enough with Fulham to impress West Brom, and they signed him just before the transfer deadline.

Although the transfer fee of 200,000 pounds will not be paid until he makes his first appearance, and will not be paid at all if he has not played before January 1, 2005, Ina still has every reason to be optimistic.

After all, the transfer will be a permanent one, not on loan, and the contract will be for two and half years, with an option for an extra year.

This, I feel, is just the boost Ina needs.

He was on loan at Arsenal, and then again at Fulham.

It always seemed he was fighting for his future, fighting to impress his employers in every game.

But when he joins West Brom, and the deal goes through, he will finally feel part of the squad. This will surely give him more confidence, and remove some of the pressure he must have felt in every game.

West Brom have not made a great start to the season, but manager Gary Megson, who was a very similar type of midfield player to Inamoto, has made some good summer signings.

They include midfielder Jonathan Greening from Middlesbrough, Nigerian forward Kanu from Arsenal, Wales striker Robbie Earnshaw from Cardiff City for a club record fee of 3 million pounds, and Romanian right-back Cosmin Contra, on loan from Atletico Madrid.

According to an article in World Soccer magazine, West Brom are the most likely of the three promoted clubs to stay up, with both Nouwich City and Crystal Palace tipped for a swift return to the old division one, now renamed the Coca-Cola Championship.

So Ina has every incentive to get fully fit, and feel that he belongs in England.

After three seasons on loan, he will feel the effort has finally paid off.

ends