In his Scottish Sun column, Davie Provan claimed that James Morrison, who officially announced his retirement from professional football during the week, could have played in the Scottish Premiership ‘standing on his head’.
He claimed that top-flight clubs ‘missed a trick’ by not swooping for the 46-cap Scotland international, with bags of Premier League experience.
Morrison decided to call it quits on his career aged just 33, after only receiving playing offers from lower league clubs following the expiration of his West Brom contract. Instead of dropping down through the EFL, he opted to take up a coaching role at the Hawthorns.
Should Rangers have swooped for former West Brom midfielder?
Morrison’s record is certainly impressive. Turning out for just two clubs across a 15-year professional career, he scored 32 goals and registered 33 assists in 311 Premier League appearances [Premierleague.com].
However, his influence on the Baggies side had dropped in recent seasons, with injury problems restricting him to just six club appearances in 2017/18 [Soccerbase], before he featured largely as a substitute during his final campaign.
There’s no doubt Morrison was a highly capable midfield operator with an eye for a spectacular strike.
Yet, perhaps much in the same vein as Graham Dorrans when he joined the Gers, he was past his best years.
If a player with a record such as his only has offers from lower divisions, there’s a reason for it. Given the current strength and depth the Gers have in midfield, moving for Morrison simply wouldn’t have added up.
With experienced heads like Steven Davis and Ryan Jack, Gerrard already has enough nouse in the middle of the park.
