JAMES MORRISON, the West Bromwich Albion and Scotland player who was the subject of a bid from Celtic on the final day of the transfer window, has admitted he would consider a move to Parkhead in January.
Morrison has not been playing regularly in the Barclays Premier League in England this season after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury during pre-season.
The Scottish champions enquired about the possibility of taking the versatile 30-year-old on loan until the end of the 2016/17 campaign before the window closed last week.
Brendan Rodgers was keen to strengthen his squad by bringing in a creative midfielder ahead of the start of the Champions League group stages. However, the Hawthorns club rejected the offer.
But Morrison was left out of Gordon Strachan’s side for their opening World Cup qualifier with Malta in Ta’Qali on Sunday evening.
The 41-time capped player admitted he would have moved to Glasgow in order to get first team football and will review his position in January if he is still not featuring in the West Brom side.
“It was just an enquiry, that was all,” he said. “Obviously, I am not playing at my club at the moment and there was an enquiry. But the club said no. With my position at the minute I would definitely have considered it. But it didn’t happen so I am just looking forward to trying to get back into the team.
“The last day of the window was the first time I had heard of it. My first goal is to get back playing regularly for my club again and try and force my way back into the Scotland team.”
Morrison added: “January is a long time away, but I would have to seriously consider my position at the club if I am not playing. I will have to look at it. I haven’t had a chance to play in many games. It is hard for the management at the club to throw me back in when I haven’t played for so long. They are under pressure as well.
“I was injured for a bit and I am still not getting games. I will keep trying to get fit, wait for my chance and take it when it comes.”
Morrison has been a regular starter – he has played both as a deep-lying midfielder and just off the striker – for his adopted homeland under Strachan.
His lack of game time at club level in the 2015/16 campaign, though, led to him being omitted from the Scotland side for their first Group F match against Malta on Sunday night.
But the Darlington-born player admitted he was impressed with how the national team performed in their resounding 5-1 victory in the National Stadium.
The home team allowed their hosts to equalise in the first half and the Tartan Army endured a few anxious moments before killing the game off with four goals in the second half.
The victory puts Scotland on top of their section ahead of England who beat Slovakia 1-0 away thanks to a goal from Adam Lallana in the fourth minute of injury-time.
“It was a good start,” said Morrison.“We wanted an early goal and we got it. To concede right after was a bit disappointing, but the lads showed good character to come back and score some good goals.”
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