'I challenged him' - James Morrison's test to consistent West Brom star

James Morrison revealed he issued Albion player of the season Callum Styles a challenge to kick on after inking a new contract during the summer.

Styles has been a model of consistency in his two years at The Hawthorns and rapidly developed into one of the club’s star men.

The left-back received two player of the season awards last term and was rewarded as he penned a bumper new and improved contract during the summer, to tie him to The Hawthorns until 2030.

Hungary international Styles, 26, has maintained his excellent form to start this season - with two goals in his last four games having not netted at all last campaign - and even answered boss Morrison’s right-back SOS call with recent unavailability. Morrison admitted he threw down the gauntlet to the Baggies star during the summer.

“I challenged him,” Morrison told the Express & Star. “He can’t just rest on being player of the season.

“He’s got to go and show it again. He’s been rewarded with a new contract and I didn’t want him to pick the big contract up and not be at that level of performance.

“He’s the type of person where you don’t have to give him many instructions.

“You let him go and he racks the games up and I’m really pleased that we got him tied down.”

Styles joined Albion in a relatively nominal six-figure move from League One side Barnsley two summers ago, with mixed reviews from Tykes fans after six years at Oakwell.

There were conflicting opinions on the left-sider’s ‘best position’ after spells at full-back, wing-back and midfield with his former club. Then-Baggies boss Carlos Corberan said at the time Styles could play in ‘six positions’. Indeed, despite shining at left-back at The Hawthorns, Styles is a central midfield regular alongside Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai for Hungary.

Such adeptness served Albion well in the last week. Morrison lost right-back duo Brayann Pereira and Nolan Galves to suspension and injury respectively against Derby and across slotted Styles, on his weaker side, to excel.

He went one better in Saturday’s draw against QPR, with a stunning equalising goal to claim a point from the right.

“I believe in Callum so much that I think I could play him anywhere and he would be just as good,” Morrison added.

“I liked the defensive line-up at the back end of the Derby game.

“He came up against a fast winger at Derby and he dealt with him, and with coming inside on his left foot he could cause problems.

“We had one day of video work on it but I thought he picked it up really well.”

Deputising on the right side allowed Styles to drift inside and, when possible, use his gifted left foot as a weapon. It turned out his superb finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards was choreographed by Morrison.

The head coach said: “I said to him ‘come inside onto your left foot and shoot’ and it was a great finish.

“He’s used to playing in midfield so he could come inside or he could stay wide.

“When he was younger he played as a winger and he’s played at wing back, so it was just about trying to get that balance right with Rabby Nzingoula (at right midfield). I thought they dealt with it really well.”