Shelton Martis has been rewarded after his impressive introduction to Premier League football after Tony Mowbray revealed the club will exercise their one-year option to extend his contract.
The 26-year-old has had to bide his time to wait for first-team football at The Hawthorns since joining from Hibs back in July 2007; but has grasped the opportunity with both hands helping Albion gain points against West Ham, Bolton and during the 3-0 victory over Sunderland last Saturday.
Mowbray has been a long admirer of Martis first taking the Netherlands Antilles international from Darlington to Hibs before signing him for the Baggies and believes the strong centre-back is finally fulfilling his potential.
"Shelton looks composed with the ball," said Mowbray.
"He is big, strong and fast. Those things have never been a problem for him.
"When I first saw him playing for Darlington and took him to Scotland, I could see all those attributes.
"But I feel he has needed to develop mentally over the piece.
"The signs are there that he is getting there and becoming a tougher player.
"Even in the adversity of his mistake against Stoke, that was clear.
"In years gone by, having worked with Shelton, he might have had a tough time on the back of that.
"But he has shown he is pushing on and is mentally stronger now and can cope with mistakes that happen.
"Every footballer makes mistakes but it's about how you bounce back from that and keep going - and I have been delighted with Shelton.
"Coming from Holland to Darlington, and then going to Hibs, and then into this team on the verge of being in the Premier League has been a massive jump for him.
"But sometimes you have to just believe you can play at this level and believe that you deserve to be here and warrant your place.
"That is what he has had to convince himself of.
"Once he has done that, I think we've got a hell of a good player."