Peter Grant on Graham Dorrans' rise

Former Albion coach Peter Grant today geared up for his Hawthorns return and admitted Graham Dorrans was under-used in the last Premier League campaign.

Grant, who was part of Tony Mowbray's backroom team two years ago, will be back at the club on Saturday as Alex McLeish's assistant as Birmingham visit for the season's opening West Midlands derby.

The Blues No 2 could go head to head with Dorrans, who Albion hope to have available after his leave of absence following a family bereavement.

And Grant believes Dorrans was unlucky not to play more in the last top-flight campaign, which saw him make just five league starts.

He said: "Graham was very unfortunate. His first full game was West Ham away and he should probably have been in the side prior to that.

"I remember I used to say 'if he was 28 would we be playing him?' and the answer was always 'yes.'

"But, because he was the age he was and the lack of Premier League experience throughout the group, he didn't play.

"Probably, if we had had more Premier League experience throughout the group, he would have played earlier because he was fantastic in training and there was no doubt about his talent.

"You've got to give Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus credit for taking him from Livingston, because it was probably the best money the club ever spent."