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Ten years ago, James Morrison was celebrating promotion to the Premier League.

The Darlington-born playmaker had enjoyed a hugely impressive first year at West Brom, helping Tony Mowbray's Baggies to the Championship title.

A place and two points behind them in the final Championship standings that season? Tony Pulis's Stoke City.

A decade on and Morrison is now West Brom's longest serving player - but his future is uncertain.

The 32-year-old's contract at the Hawthorns expires this summer and the Baggies, on the back of relegation from the top flight last term, are still pondering over whether to activate a one-year extension.

Middlesbrough are said to be keeping a close eye on developments with Morrison as they weigh up whether to make a move for their former wideman, who was a key player for Pulis when the Welshman was in charge of Albion.

Why the delay in Albion contract negotiations?

Uncertainty over his future is nothing new for Morrison.

Two years ago, with his then-contract set to expire, the midfielder was linked with a move to Boro ahead of the Premier League season.

After admitting that he'd considered whether he needed a "new challenge", Morrison penned a new two-year deal with the option of a further year extension for the Baggies.

Whether or not to take up that option is now being considered by Albion.

According to Birmingham Live earlier this week , a decision is yet to be made on Morrison's future but they claim Albion are "open to discussions".

(Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Reports in the Midlands this week claimed the Albion squad will "undergo a major overhaul" this summer as Darren Moore looks to offload some big earners and shape his side for a promotion tilt next term.

Jonny Evans will leave and Jay Rodriguez is another of the "many assets that could be sold".

James McClean also looks set to depart with the winger linked with a move to Stoke City. But a winger who is staying at the Hawthorns is ex-Boro man Chris Brunt, who triggered a 12-month extension to his contract based on appearances at the back end of the season. He'll enter his 12th season with the Baggies next term.

After committing another year to the club, Brunt spoke of the need for Albion to strike a balance in their squad as they look to bounce back at the first time of asking.

"I will be here next year unless anybody tells me otherwise, unless somebody comes in with drastic new ideas," he said.

"Everybody has to accept their bit of responsibility for what’s gone on this year and I’m no different.

“I think if we can get the right blend and the right mix next year and have a good go it could be a positive season for us."

"Realistically we’re going to have to put a squad together to try to bounce back from a tough division and we need to make sure we get the balance right because over the last 18 months we’ve probably got it wrong

Moore will be aware of the fact that Morrison knows what it takes to get out of the Championship and the Scotland international's experience could be crucial.

Morrison would be, as Birmingham Live put it, "a prized asset" in the Championship.

Why did he hardly feature last year?

Injury.

Morrison has racked up more than 350 league appearances in an impressive career but played only six games for West Brom last term. His last appearance for the Baggies came back in September in a defeat at Arsenal.

Morrison had surgery in Portugal on a troublesome Achilles injury in November but then faced a long and difficult road to recovery.

He underwent treatment in Qatar earlier this year in a bid to try and speed up his rehabilitation.

After such a long spell on the sidelines, Morrison will be desperate for a full pre-season to put last year's injury nightmare behind him.

Is Pulis a fan?

Yes.

In a piece about Morrison this week, BirminghamLive writer Gregg Evans told of how "under Tony Pulis, Albion performed better when Morrison was in the team".

Pulis admitted as much himself.

Back in November, with West Brom a point above the drop-zone at the time, Pulis said his side were missing Morrison, who had been sidelined with a knee problem before suffering that Achilles injury.

"In that pocket behind, Morrison is a good player," said Pulis.

"And what Morrison does well is 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."

What has Morrison said about Pulis?

After two poor seasons for the Baggies under the tutelage of Steve Clarke, Pepe Mel and Alan Irvine, Morrison felt West Brom got their identity back after the appointment of Tony Pulis.

Speaking back in 2015, Morrison said: “What’s important as a team is that we’ve got an identity again where for a couple of seasons, that’s been missing, we haven’t been quite sure what we are.

“Now we are a solid team, we build on clean sheets. It’s a bit like it was under Roy (Hodgson), but more so.”

As mentioned above, Morrison did consider moving on two years ago when Boro looked into the possibility of bringing him back to the Riverside. Celtic were also monitoring his situation.

After signing that new deal in 2016, Morrison said : "I was aware of the speculation and some of the stories were true.

"I had a good sit down and think about it - did I need a new challenge? What more could I do with the club?

"I spoke with my family, the chairman, Richard Garlick and they told me their vision about where we go from here and I also thought about the end of last season. I didn't like the way I went out - walking around the pitch and then out the door.

"I had worked too hard for it to finish like that. Now I hope that we can push the club on again because we all have to accept that since finishing eighth we haven't done as well as we wanted to."

At the time, Pulis said: "It was inevitable that James would consider his options at the end of his contract but we're delighted that he as decided to sign back up with Albion."

Could Morrison spark more Pulis delight this summer?

Would Morrison be a good signing for Boro this summer?