Preston v West Brom: Talk of EFL sanction can be fuel for further motivation if Albion need it

Baggies players should not require any further motivation to salvage the club’s Championship status from a season of misery.

But if they do, then a feeling of things going against them could enter the conscience.

A crucial few days lay ahead with clashes against mid-table duo Preston and Watford for Albion.

Saturday’s Deepdale hosts are moored in mid-table, in 13th, and as a result are playing for little. The cliche goes they, as well as 10th-placed Watford, are ideal opponents at this stage of the season.

Though a run of four unbeaten for Paul Heckingbottom’s men could suggest otherwise.

Morrison’s side, in resurgent form unbeaten in seven, already had enough on their plate with the cushion to the bottom three just two points.

But concern among fraught supporters has increased tenfold this week after the news of a charge from the English Football League for an alleged financial breach.

The picture is a murky one full of grey areas and unknowns, but any potential points sanction if found guilty will clearly make the challenge more steep.

Albion already had to win games to all-but secure their safety. But with the threat of a points deduction, hanging over them, they could need more than they otherwise would have.

Morrison will hold his pre-Preston press conference on Friday afternoon, where he will face questions on the club’s legal wrangle with the EFL.

Footballers typically need little encouragement to focus on the matches.

They tend to steer clear of headlines, aside from extraordinary cases.

With so much on the line as Albion fight against Championship relegation, having already pushed on from second-bottom, the players will have seen this week’s headlines of doom and uncertainty.

It will have caused concern but the message from Morrison will surely be to focus on winning each game ahead.

If anything, the frustration of an alleged financial breach could serve to rally the troops.

It could add an extra half-a-per cent to Albion’s motivation for the four games ahead and that could make all the difference.

The only way forward in the survival bid - guilty or not guilty of a PSR breach - is to win games.

Albion cannot afford to be bogged down in many of the what ifs and instead must put all their attention into translating recent draws into victories.

Morrison’s options are expected to be boosted in Lancashire.

Karlan Grant has returned to full training after three months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Morrison has previously said he hoped the wide attacker could return for Preston and the head coach is expected to confirm as much on Friday.

Defender Chris Mepham is in a similar boat having been sidelined with a hamstring issue of his own since early February but has also returned to training.

Grant in particular could provide some added thrust and telling final touch Morrison’s side have required to get over the line with much-needed victories.