Quitting New Zealand and joining the West Brom setup has been the making of 17 year-old centre-forward Chris Wood, says academy boss Mark Harrison.
"We're delighted for Chris," Harrison told the WBA website.
"He has really kicked on in the last two-to-three months because he has never had the intensity that he has had here - the day-to-day training, the professionalism - and he has recently blossomed in the reserves.
"Chris is a big powerful boy, a little bit of an old fashioned centre forward, who can get hold of things up front.
"But he is also a very good finisher. He can score all types of goals. He is more than just a big target player. He has also got a very good personality, which is key for us.
"We are very big on the ethos of the boys' personalities and keeping their feet on the ground. Hopefully, he will stick in and around the first-team squad for the rest of the season."