Express & Star

Out-of-contract James Morrison to continue training at West Brom to earn new deal

James Morrison will continue training with Albion this week – despite his contract officially running out over the weekend.

Published
Last updated
James Morrison. (AMA)

Albion’s longest serving player is technically a free agent, but will try and prove his fitness to head coach Darren Moore in order to earn a new deal.

Morrison missed the majority of last season with a nasty Achilles injury but he has been working hard on his recovery over summer at the Palm training ground in Walsall.

He did not travel to Portugal with the senior squad last week because he was given a week’s holiday after his busy summer.

However, he is expected to continue training with the Baggies this week in an effort to prove his fitness.

Moore is a big fan of Morrison and wants to keep him in at the club if possible, and it’s believed the 32-year-old is keen to stay.

He was not released like Boaz Myhill, Gareth McAuley or Claudio Yacob but his existing £60,000-a-week contract officially ran out at the end of June.

However, the midfielder is still getting paid by the Baggies due to a regulation negotiated by the Professional Footballers' Association which means players released at the end of their contracts are due an additional month's pay if they don’t retire and can’t find another club.

That gives Morrison a month to prove his fitness to Moore before being removed from the club’s wage bill.

The majority of Albion’s players are due back at the training ground this week, when Moore will be reunited with Ben Foster and Craig Dawson, who both refused to go to Portugal.

Dawson and Foster are expected to be handed the maximum fine of two weeks' wages for skipping the training camp in light of interest from other clubs.

Watford are keen on Foster and Burnley are trying to sign Dawson, although the Baggies want £20m for the centre-back.

Albion have rekindled their interest in Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer.

The 25-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, is unable to return to Villa Park due to the club’s financial problems.

But the Baggies are lining him up as a potential replacement for Foster.