BBC pundit Noel Whelan has claimed West Brom's Grady Diangana should be pleased to hear that West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has no plans to recall the on-loan winger this term.

Diangana has scored four goals and registered five assists during his 13 Championship appearances this season, while he has played a key role in the Baggies' impressive start to the campaign which has seen them climb to the second-tier summit.

The 21-year-old's strong performances at The Hawthorns led to suggestions that West Ham might consider recalling him from his loan spell, but Pellegrini has since rejected this idea by claiming Diangana should stay where he is until the summer.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan has now insisted that both West Brom and Diangana himself should be pleased with this development, as the former Leeds striker believes the winger will benefit from the security now surrounding his future.

“Slaven Bilic has got to be really pleased that he’s got that news because that’s the danger, isn’t it? Losing players, being recalled, losing that momentum and that balance in your side just as you’re getting into this important time of the season," he said.

“To be given that security that the player’s staying, not going anywhere, the player will be happy with that because that would be destructive for the player as well, especially as he’s bedding himself in with a new team, new teammates, new manager and enjoying his football."

West Brom are currently sitting top of the Championship table after winning eight of their 15 matches so far this season, while Diangana has started 10 of these games since arriving in the Midlands back in August.

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The Verdict

West Brom will have been delighted with the news that Diangana will be staying at The Hawthorns this season, particularly seeing as they were in a similar situation with Leicester's Harvey Barnes last campaign.

Barnes was eventually recalled by his parent club during the January window, but it appears there will be no such issue this time around, as Pellegrini seems happy for Diangana to see out the season at West Brom.

It will definitely be best for the player to continue playing regular first-team football under the guidance of Slaven Bilic this term, as he will then be fully equipped to return to the Hammers over the summer and compete for a first-team spot.