AFTER spending 2005/06 on loan at Cardiff, 'Koumi' returned to The Hawthorns in August 2006, ending weeks of speculation about his Hawthorns future by signing a new three-year Albion deal.

Koumas' spell at Ninian Park had been a successful one, scoring 13 times in 44 starts and three substitute appearances.

The Welsh international initially joined Albion in August 2002 for a then-club record fee of £2.5million.

Koumas had to be patient for his first-team chance during the club's first-ever Premiership campaign in 2002/03.

But, once he had improved his fitness levels, he established himself in the side after a man-of-the-match performance in the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in November 2002.

Capable of running at defences with the ball at his feet in the classic Albion tradition, Koumas quickly became a firm fans' favourite, a position underlined when he carried off the Player-of-the-Season trophy at the end of his first campaign at the club.

Sensational solo goals against Manchester United and Blackburn only added to his burgeoning reputation - which he enhanced further still during the club's 2003/04 promotion success.

Koumas scored ten goals from midfield - most of which were goal-of-the-season contenders - including a last-gasp winner at Sunderland in April 2004, which proved to be Albion's promotion-clinching goal.

His twinkle-toe displays also earned him a deserved place in the Division One PFA XI that season.

Koumas' form was not lost on Mark Hughes, who handed him a regular starting role during Wales' Euro 2004 qualifying bid, which ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Red Dragons.

However, Koumas' Albion fortunes dipped the following season.