Sam Allardyce: Dara O’Shea sets standards for others to follow at West Brom

The Republic of Ireland international was a victim of his own versatility when Allardyce first arrived at the club – with the 22-year-old switched between centre-back, right-back and left-back.

But after Semi Ajayi was sent off at Burnley, O’Shea has been excellent after being given an extended run in his favourite position at the heart of the defence.

Albion’s back four has been transformed in recent weeks, with the team having registered three clean sheets in their last four outings.

O’Shea’s performances have meant Nigerian international Ajayi has had to make do with a place on the bench.

And Allardyce believes other players at the club should take note at how the Dubliner has managed to hold on to a starting spot.

“He (O’Shea) was very unlucky to lose his position because I asked him to play outside of his natural position and then I had to leave him out of the side, which he didn’t deserve,” the boss said. “But Barts (Kyle Bartley) and Semi were doing well.

“And Darnell (Furlong) came in as a more natural right-back, so I think he was very unfortunate to get out of the team.

“I said to him the other day: ‘If you get back into the team, make sure you stay in’, and we’ve seen that with his performances.

“I could do with a few more people in the squad doing that.”

While Allardyce has played O’Shea in a few positions, the boss believes the player’s long-term future is at centre-half.

“He’s a centre-half – there’s no doubt about that,” he continued. “He can do a job at left-back or right-back.

“But he’s not in the sort of areas that you want your right-backs playing today.

“Yes, defensively he’s very good but he doesn’t do what a right-back has to do today: getting forward and getting crosses in.

“That’s not his major strength. His major strength is his quality defending.”

Meanwhile, Mbaye Diagne feels he is now adapting to life in England and the Premier League.

The striker has put in a series of impressive performances since joining the Baggies on loan from Galatasaray.

But both he and Allardyce feel the 29-year-old should have scored more goals – with the forward having so far only managed to find the target against Manchester United.

“I feel like I have adapted to the Premier League and England now,” Diagne said. “I think it was difficult at the start for lots of reasons including the driving, the language and the different way of life.

“I was scoring more goals at Galatasaray, but I know the Turkish league more than I know the Premier League.

“I am getting to know all my new team-mates. The link-up still isn’t 100 per cent but it’s getting better and better.

“It’s my job to adapt and score goals and I’m confident of doing that.”