Albion coach Michael Appleton has tipped Graham Dorrans to play “the highest level” after hailing the midfielder’s hunger to improve.

First team coach Appleton, himself a former Baggies midfield star, believes the sky is the limit for Dorrans, who has emerged as the club’s most valuable player this season.

Dorrans has struck 12 goals as well as driving Albion forward from midfield.

Appleton said: “Potentially ‘Dozza’ can be as good as he wants to be. There are not an awful lot of flaws in his game. The key with him is maintaining it.

“From our point of view we know we’ve got a fantastic player in the middle of the park. What we don’t want to do is ask him to play and play, until the lad burns out.

“When the lad is playing really well you’ll see the type of energy he’s got. He’s one of those lads that come in, does his work and goes home, and is a quiet lad.

“But potentially we’ve got a player on our hands that can play at the highest level – and I mean the highest level. He enjoys playing and enjoys coming in and training as well.

“The top, top players all love playing. You put a ball at their feet and they come alive. Other players might be interested in what goes on off the pitch and all that goes with it.

“But the top, top players just want to play football, whether it’s in training or matches.”

Dorrans will again look to inspire an Albion victory at home to Scunthorpe, as the Baggies look to cope without the suspended Jerome Thomas.

Appleton has backed Thomas to learn from his red card for fouling Plymouth’s David McNamee on Saturday.

The coach said: “Jerome was disappointed but he probably felt a little bit hard done, by that he had been caught two or three times and they weren’t great tackles on him.

“I think he just got a little bit frustrated and that tends to happen. But he needs to be able to deal with that in the future, because he is a talented player and people are going to look to stop him by any means at times.

“He is well aware that that’s a part of his game that could be a little bit better.”