'Look up to him' - West Brom boss James Morrison excited to face 'gaffer' Tony Mowbray

Albion boss James Morrison says it will feel surreal “for about 10 seconds” to face his former boss Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray, who signed Morrison from Middlesbrough when he was Baggies head coach in 2007, is back at The Hawthorns on Saturday with current club Blackburn.

Morrison, who admits he still looks up to Mowbray as “his gaffer” is looking forward to the occasion.

But he admits the pair’s friendship will be put on hold once the action begins.

“I am really looking forward to seeing him,” he said. “It is always a pleasure to be in his company. I still look up to him as my gaffer. I always enjoy talking football with him.

“Will it feel surreal? Maybe just for 10 seconds and then you switch into that game mode.

“We are looking to back-up a victory, which is really important in this division if you want to be successful. We want to get back on our home record which we had before.”

Mowbray is still revered by Albion’s fanbase after leading the club to the Championship title in 2008.

That is despite his second stint at the club ending in the sack after just three months at the helm in April 2025.

His influence on Morrison’s career cannot be understated and his legacy at The Hawthorns still lives on through the current boss, who was also part of his backroom team during the second spell in charge.

Morrison, who has enjoyed an excellent start to his own managerial career, has previously revealed contacting Mowbray for advice. Those communication lines, not surprisingly, have gone quiet in recent days.

“We have both been so busy with the fixtures I have not spoken to him for a bit really,” he said. I think we will have a good conversation after the game.

“He was massive for me in 2007. I was coming into a club which was a big change from boyhood one, which was all I knew.

“It was a bit scary coming into a new challenge. He made me settle in very easily, showed me a different way of playing to what I was used to and got the best out of me. I never looked back from that time really.”

Asked if there was one piece of advice from Mowbray he had taken into his own management style, Morrison replied: “I just think how he is as a person is the biggest standout, how he treats people and how he loves and breathes football.

“He turns up to the Foundation when there are events. Even when he was Blackburn manager he turned up for myself and Chris (Brunt).

“Late nights down at the club - and how you ask him one question and he is answering it for 20 minutes, which is a bit different to me!

“He is just so passionate and it rubs off on you when you are in his company, the warmth he has. He always has time for people and I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“I hope he gets the reception he deserves.”