Scott Allan is aiming to match heroics

New-boy Scott Allan today set his sights on matching fellow Scot Graham Dorrans' impact after sealing his move to Albion.

The 20-year-old was settling into life with the Baggies today after penning a contract yesterday to keep him at The Hawthorns for two-and-a-half years.

And Allan, whose deal also includes a further year's option, hopes to replicate the heroics of Dorrans after he made a similar switch in 2008.

Dorrans followed up his £150,000 transfer by becoming Albion's player-of-the-season in their 2010 promotion campaign and Allan has now moved from Dundee United for just £300,000.

"Dorrans has shown what can be done," said Allan. "A lot of people down here underestimate football up there.

"But there are a lot of good players in Scotland and you just need a chance – and need to take that chance.

"I know Dorrans through a mutual friend and he told him it would be a great move for me because he'd done it and it's worked out well for him.

"Hopefully I can do what he's done, get in the team and show what I can do."

The Scotland Under-21 international rejected advances from Rangers and Celtic to move to The Hawthorns and he insisted he never had any doubts about trying his luck in England.

"I'm delighted to have moved to West Brom," he said. "It's been going on for a while.

"West Brom showed from the start how much they wanted me and they made me feel welcome, which made my choice easier to come here.

"I like the way the club is close-knit and I like the way West Brom play football. Dan Ashworth (sporting & technical director) also made me feel really wanted and that's why I ended up here – it felt right for me."

Allan grew up as a Rangers fan and the talented midfielder has revealed how an England great and a current Premier League star inspired him to become a creative player.

"I used to go and watch Paul Gascoigne and Mikel Arteta," he said.

"I always like players who like to get on the ball, just good footballers. I would love to live up to what they've done.

"I prefer playing centrally and getting on the ball. But I'm just happy to be playing football.

"I'm eager to get playing again and show what I can do. I like to try and thread passes through to the strikers.

"I just like lots of touches on the ball and try to make things happen – that's my game.

"Hopefully I'll get settled in, see how I do in training and how it pans out."