Derby County v West Brom: James Morrison not interested in possible risks in youthful and vibrant Albion

The Baggies head to bogey side Derby County on Wednesday night looking to continue a fine start to the new Championship campaign with a rare success against the Rams.

Albion have only one league win - in 2003 - away at Derby in 106 years.

But that kind of drought is unlikely to deter Morrison’s young guns - many of whom checked into The Hawthorns this summer from either overseas or from a different division, having not been subjected to the rigours many experts believe make the Championship one of the most demanding leagues in the world.

Albion’s recruitment is collaborative under owners Bilkul, with director of football operations Ian Pearce and technical director Dominic Price taking a lead, with Morrison’s focus mostly on coaching. The head coach had no concern in the recruiting of so many untested prospects.

He instead believes his coaches’ day-to-day methods will make the difference.

“Every transfer is a risk - it could be the best player you’ve got and sometimes it doesn’t work,” Morrison said. “We’ve seen that example at big clubs through the years.

“I don’t want to start thinking everything’s a risk. It’s a risk if you don’t do the work.

“For me it’s always about the preparation. What you do day-to-day, then those doubts don’t come into your mind and you can sleep easy if you’ve done your work.”

The head coach, whose side have 10 points from a possible 15 so far, added: “We’ve got to remember where we were, I think that was a good thing in a way, we don’t want it to happen again so we’ve got to keep working and believing. There will be bumps in the road, it’s how you’re going to come out of them.

“It’s a young group, a lot are unknown, coming from different leagues and different countries. It’s my job to keep an eye on them and keep working them.”

Eight of Albion’s nine outfield summer signings were aged 27 or under. Seven out of eight are aged 23 or under. Only the returning Conor Townsend, and briefly Toby Collyer, of the outfield crew have Championship experience.

A vibrant side have won plenty of plaudits already this season for an easy-on-the-eye style of fluid football and youthful energy in the final third.

Saturday’s win over Watford brought a first clean sheet and some defensive steel to go with the style.

John Eustace’s Rams have started with just one league win from five and Morrison is wary of the physical challenge ahead at Pride Park.

Alex Mowatt, the long-serving midfielder who was set to be confirmed as Albion club captain after playing a central role in pre-season, left for Derby on the eve of the season for around £600,000-£700,000. He is set to be involved.

Asked about Derby, Morrison said: “Their physicality, their long balls, duels, balls into the box - a typical Championship game. They are searching to get going with how well they did last season.

“We’ve got to be more than ready because I think they will come out the blocks.

“Alex spent a long time here. He’ll probably be telling them what we do and how we do it! It’ll be nice to see him, I hope he gets a good reception because he was a good servant. John Eustace teams are well-drilled and have that fighting spirit.”