The verdict

Harper was a good signing by Birmingham in January and the 21-year-old certainly added some extra qualities to their midfield options that they did not have in the first half of the campaign. At times, he looked like someone who could play a major role in their bid to survive the drop, but he was also at other times left out of the team in favour of other options by Lee Bowyer.

The midfielder clearly has ability and he has shown he is more than capable of playing week in week out in the middle of the park in the Championship. However, West Brom will have aspirations of challenging for promotion again next term, and there will be thoughts that they may need better quality than Harper in that area if they are to go up.

The 21-year-old is now at the age where he needs to be assured of regular playing time, and his move to Birmingham in January will have shown him what he needs to do to achieve that. It might be the case that he needs another move away from the Hawthorns this summer.