James Morrison with some tough love for West Brom starlet - who can only get better

Whitwell, 20, played a key role in the spirited 1-0 victory over Watford at The Hawthorns as the hosts returned to winning ways.

Head coach Morrison felt the academy graduate recovered from a “slow” and “sloppy” start in the clash after his recall to the starting XI. Whitwell teed up Jimmy-Jay Morgan for the first-half winner and created his side’s big chance of the second period.

Whitwell is understood to be advancing in negotiations over a new long-term contract and Morrison sees only better things ahead with more experience.

"He deserves it,” Morrison said. “I gave him a little rest to freshen him up. He played at Newcastle and Middlesbrough and I felt at Middlesbrough he looked a little bit tired.

"He looked like he benefited from that, even though I thought he had lots of sloppy moments with the ball.”

Whitwell remained a substitute in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Charlton after a busy start to the season in his first exposure to regular first-team action at Albion.

He scored his first Baggies goal and first in the Championship in the opening weeks of the season and impressed at Premier League Newcastle.

Morrison added: "He was really good in spells. I thought he started a bit slow in terms of turning over possession.

"He was getting in the right spaces and found a great pass for the goal.

"It's just how we do it. He's got great attributes, he can run, he gets back and defends, he's got an eye for goal, he arrives in the box.

"We just need to clean him up a bit and that will come in terms of game time, training and settling down. He's feeling confident and he deserves to be there."

Albion are back in action with another midweek clash, this time at bogey club Derby County, on Wednesday.