West Brom notebook: Attacker continues improvement with case made for West Ham

Horn Myhre hitting straps

This was probably Felix Horn Myhre’s best display in a Baggies shirt to date.

There have been some brighter performances but he has flattered to deceive at times. He is an intelligent attacking player, with smart runs and a work rate that really appeals to boss Morrison.

But Albion fans are looking for more end product - ‘outcomes’, as the head coach calls them - from the man who cost £2.5million from Brann amid acclaim in the summer.

Horn Myhre was at the heart of lots of nice play from the visitors, particularly in the first half where Preston were played around at times, until a Baggies bluntness came to the fore.

There were some neat flicks and tricks from the Norwegian, a guile to suggest he has some of the qualities to unlock a door.

He did likewise in the closing stages to help create the equaliser for his compatriot Aune Heggebo. The flick in the penalty area for Jayson Molumby to feed Isaac Price, whose shot was saved, will not go down as an assist, but it was a classy piece of play.

Morrison was left wanting more. He pointed out opportunities to get a shot away that were ignored, but for Horn Myhre, 27, this was another step forward after the confidence injection of the last-gasp winner against Blackburn seven days earlier.

Super-sub surely due start?

Heggebo has been involved in quite the rollercoaster so far this term for his side.

Drama on day one - the infamous handball goal at Norwich, which resulted in a very cruel ban, during and after which a mystery illness really seemed to strike at the fitness and belief of the frontman, last season’s top goalscorer.

But despite a match-winner on a famous night at Derby - during just 45 minutes - his form badly struggled and Heggebo looked a pale shadow of himself, the nadir at Molineux before the international break where Heggebo looked short of fight, which is among his greatest qualities.

Heggebo unsurprisingly found himself dropped following another poor display against Birmingham after the break, but has made his point since.

The winning goal from the bench at Wrexham was a fine finish of a confident striker, who has shown during his time at The Hawthorns he can finish well with the right service.

Heggebo had to make do with another substitute role against Blackburn but delivered there, too, when it mattered with a clever headed assist for Horn Myhre.

And Saturday’s poacher finish from a rebound rescued Albion from what would have been a really unsatisfactory defeat.

Barney Stewart could not get into the game and Heggebo is the more likely starter at West Ham on Saturday. He deserves it.

Youngster finding it tough

For academy graduate Harry Whitwell it has been a few months to remember and a more than deserved improved contract.

The 20-year-old is being managed well by Morrison and does not start every game, his exposure is limited with both Horn Myhre and Rabby Nzingoula among the alternatives.

But when he has started recently Whitwell has found it hard going. Games against Wolves, Wrexham and Preston have not gone his way and on Saturday he struggled to impose himself against PNE’s left side and was often caught on the ball and too easy to knock off.

Inconsistency is expected of such a youngster, of course. Late sub Kareem Tunde showed one or two glimpses of his ability.