Andy Johnson the latest to prove why James Morrison is the right man for West Brom
Andy Johnson has backed up his fan favourite status at West Bromwich Albion with his latest comments on James Morrison.
The midfielder spent five years at The Hawthorns, before moving on to Leicester City in 2006.
Now part of Albion's media team, he has witnessed the turnaround under Morrison up close.
The former Scotland international was appointed in February following the dismal spells of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay.
After guiding the Baggies to safety, he would be rewarded with the position on a full-time basis.
Ahead of his first full season, the 40-year-old is backed to succeed by Johnson, despite his lack of experience in the role.
James Morrison lauded as West Brom begin season preparations
After a 10-match unbeaten run heading into the final day of last season, it would have been almost impossible to not hand Morrison the job.
Of course there are questions to be asked regarding his experience, but Johnson believes he is the exact man the Baggies need.
"He's wholehearted," he told the Express & Star. "If there's one thing you could say about Moz - he's a winner.
"He can be quite quiet and shy, but he's got that fire that burns inside of him. He just wins. He will not concede, and he wants to win everything he does," added Johnson.
Morrison signed for Albion in 2007, making 341 appearances by the time of his retirement in 2019, and Johnson highlighted how his motivation has not dissipated even after such a lengthy career.
"That fire goes out with some people, over years, it dwindles. With him, it hasn't. It's still raging and he's still wanting to win every single football match. That's a real talent.
"Moz has always been there. He bleeds West Brom through and through. He knows the club. He understands the club.
"He's really in touch. He's got his finger on the pulse of everything that goes on, and also the wider field in the local areas. He was, without a shadow of a doubt, the best guy to appoint for the job."
Can James Morrison handle shift in expectations?
Naturally, the expectations ahead of the campaign differ from when he took the job in February.
Given their size, the Baggies are a club who should always be aiming for more than just consolidation whenever they are in the second tier.
And while the immediate goal will not be to go up automatically, West Brom will quietly be targeting the upper echelons of mid-table and even the playoffs - Hull City's promotion proved anything is possible in this regard.
Morrison has worked well to get the right people around him, and seems to have experience well beyond his years in this regard.
Given his history in the Black Country, he will likely have the support of the fans for a long time, and that could see him through as he looks to guide West Brom to a more prosperous campaign.