Dorrans encouraged by West Brom progress

Graham Dorrans has been impressed with West Brom’s pre-season and believes they will be well set for the new Premier League campaign.

The Scotland international made 28 appearances last season as Steve Clarke’s side finished eighth in the table.

Dorrans is embarking on his fifth year with the club and he is encouraged by what he has seen in the build-up.

“Pre-season has been good,” he told the club’s official website. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks with double sessions every day.

“But I kept myself ticking over in the summer and I’m feeling good.

“The games have been good, I’m enjoying it and hopefully I can keep getting fitter.”

West Brom have only lost once in their warm-up games, to Hannover, and Dorrans is confident that the squad are well set for their opening-day clash with Southampton.

“The lads are looking well and we have a big game coming up on Saturday (against Derby) that the lads will all be eager to play in – and get more fitness from,” he added.

“We came in and the lads were looking good from day one – and that’s continued.

“The games are starting to come thick and fast now.

“We looked fit against Hannover and we took a lot of positives from that game.

“In the second game against Puskas, we were up against a relatively inexperienced side, and we looked comfortable.”