West Brom: Graham Dorrans told by boss to beef up for Premiership

Mar 21 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

GRAHAM Dorrans will blossom into a quality Premier League player – but still has more to do to ensure he copes with the brutality of the top flight.

That’s the assessment of Tony Mowbray, who was impressed with his young midfielder.

The Scotland under-21 international came in for his first Premier League start in Monday night’s game at West Ham.

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And the ex-Livingston midfielder shone alongside Robert Koren, playing without any fuss but also demonstrating the ability to carve out openings for other players.

Dorrans has a bright future in the game.

He was a little disappointed to be left out of the side in recent weeks after being used as a substitute during the Christmas and New Year period.

But hard work in training, along with an excellent display in the reserves against Stoke just under a fortnight ago, propelled him back onto Albion’s first-team radar.

And Dorrans didn’t disappoint.

His manager was certainly impressed but believes the slightly-built rookie midfielder still needs a little more physicality to ensure he can improve his all-round game.

“He is great belief in his quality, his ability to keep the ball and his ability to make the right decisions with the ball,” said Mowbray.

“What he has had to do is develop his resistance to the league over the last six months, meaning the use of his body when in possession and the ability to try to win the ball back when out of possession.