James Morrison has urged Albion to fight tooth and nail to keep Graham Dorrans after hailing the young Scot’s progress this season.

Morrison, who was a star of the Baggies’ Premier League campaign, has returned from a 10-month lay-off to find Dorrans has taken his mantle as the team’s chief playmaker.

But Morrison is full of admiration for his fellow Scotland international and he has urged Albion to resist any summer transfer approaches for the 22-year-old, who is attracting an army of scouts to Baggies matches.

“He’s done really well. I think they need to drug test him,” joked Morrison.

“We knew he had talent when he came in and now we’re seeing it. He worked hard in pre-season and gained confidence and he is growing in experience and obviously has ability.

“I think me and him could be a good partnership in midfield.

“He doesn’t say a lot and he’s level headed and probably is a bit bad for the chairman.

“Because we’ve got a good player and we need to keep our good players. There’s no point in selling them because we won’t progress and we want to get up and stay in Premier League.”

Morrison has travelled with the Baggies for this afternoon’s meeting with QPR at Loftus Road having made his comeback from a heel injury with two substitute appearances in the last week.

And the 23-year-old admitted he has been pleased with how fit he feels.

“To be honest I was quite surprised,” said the former Middlesbrough man.

“I’ve been running for quite a while now.

“I think I’m just being sensible and doing the right things.

“I don’t want to run around like a headless chicken. I’m just managing my game better.

“Once I’m back up to speed I’ll start sprinting about like my normal self.”

And Morrison is enjoying his first taste of football under Roberto Di Matteo having been signed at The Hawthorns by former boss Tony Mowbray.

“I liked Tony and I liked how we played although we were exposed a bit at the back,” said Morrison.“That’s happening at Celtic now. But I like playing five in midfield, as we are now, so I think we’re getting it right.”