Morrison’s fitness could be vital to Pulis survival
TONY Pulis’ future could hinge on the James Morrison. Injuries have disrupted the influential midfielder’s season, with the Scotland international only able to make six appearances to date.
A knee problem forced him to miss the start of the season and, more recently, an Achilles injury has kept him out for over a month.
Morrison is, however, expected to be fit for Albion’s crucial home game against Chelsea on Saturday, which Chinese owner Guochuan Lai plans to attend.
He might be in his tenth season at at Albion fitness of The Hawthorns, but Pulis insists the 31-year-old playmaker remains incredibly important. The head coach sees Morrison as the man who can bind the summer signings together, add balance and get the Baggies back on track.
After just two wins in 20 games, and Albion only one point above the drop zone, Pulis needs positive results to stay in the job.
“In that pocket behind, Morrison is a good player,” he said. “What Morrison does well is he joins in and makes you strong but when you get the ball he can get up there and make you a goal.
“We’ve not had that. When I looked at it when we brought them (new signings) in, I had that in my mind and I thought that would be a good balance. I thought if we can get them all together it would fit really well and then you need to give them five or six games to see if it does.
“Unfortunately we haven’t had that chance but I’m not moaning. Every other manager has to put up with it (injuries) and we have to get on with it. We have been three or four players short of what I want with that balance in the team. We’ve lost Craig Dawson and we haven’t had Oliver Burke. It’s frustrating because they would fit.”
Pulis has been reluctant to return to the 4-2-3-1 formation that brought so much joy last season, partly because of Morrison’s continued absence.
Despite the presence of two strik- ers, fans have criticised Pulis’ desire to retain three defensively-minded central midfielders in a 3-5-2.
Nacer Chadli can fill the No.10 role behind a lone striker but the former Spurs attacker has had his own issues with injury, fitness and a fall from favour this season.
Chadli, who played 90 minutes at left wing-back for Belgium in their 3-3 draw with Mexico on Saturday, has been restricted to only three games for Albion.
But even when fit, Pulis prefers him off the left because of his potential to strike up a chemistry with Kieran Gibbs.
“I would like Chadli with Gibbs,” Pulis added. “I think those two together would be very good.’’