West Brom manager Darren Moore has said that he wants to see James Morrison remain at the club past the end of his current contract which is set to expire at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old has made 11 appearances for the Baggies this season with injury keeping him on the sidelines for a large chunk of games, having, as reported by the BBC, penned a new one year deal in the summer with an optional extension clause which could take it until 2020.
Speaking of the experienced midfielder, Moore insisted there was more to come from his man and stated that he was happy to see him stay on board, hinting at a long stay at the Hawthorns.
He told the Express and Star: “Mozza has unfinished business here. He loves the club, his family are settled in the area, and we want to see him finish his career at West Bromwich Albion.
“There’s a lot of football in James Morrison yet. We’ve seen glimpses of him coming back, if he can continue to stay fit, I’m sure there’s more to come.
“He was out of contract, he had an opportunity to go away, but he stayed and we wanted him to stay. He’s a huge player and an effective player for West Brom. I speak on behalf of the staff, players, and I imagine the supporters, it’s great to see Mozza back out there and enjoying his football.”
Opinion
Moore might well want to see Morrison remain at the Hawthorns, but if the Baggies secure a return to the Premier League – which is their ultimate goal this season – then there is no way that extension clause should be triggered. His injuries seem to have taken his pace and mobility in the middle and while in the Championship you can find time and space to dictate the play, the cut and thrust of the top flight is too much for him. He has found his level and is very, very comfortable there – which is why he should continue to play there for the rest of his career rather than push himself too far. He has been a great servant of West Brom and he will always be held in high regard but the club need to be looking forward rather than standing still with the players of the past. His future will depend on how the club perform and with his impressive displays in the middle, he could well be sealing his destiny away from the Baggies.