Mowbray considers move for Menseguez

WBA manager Tony Mowbray wants to view Menseguez's performances in the final four games of the season before making a decision on his future (GETTY IMAGES)

The West Bromwich manager, Tony Mowbray, will decide in the summer whether to try to sign the midfielder Juan Carlos Menseguez on a permanent basis.

Albion signed the Argentine on loan from San Lorenzo during the January transfer window. He has yet to start a game for the Baggies but came off the bench to score during Saturday's 3-0 victory over Sunderland at The Hawthorns. Mowbray wants to view Menseguez's performances in the final four games of the season before making a decision on his future.

Mowbray said: "Myself and the club haven't had that conversation with Juan's advisers or him yet. The perception is that he's a very big player in the Argentinian league and it will probably come down to the individual and the club. He's their player.

"When you deal with South American clubs it's usually via the agents that you have to make the breakthrough or contact. He's a talented individual, a nice lad, and we will try and give him more game time to see what he can do."

Mowbray has been impressed by the way 25-year-old Menseguez has adapted to life at the club despite his limited appearances. But he accepts the player may want to return home after so few opportunities to display his talent.

He said: "Juan has grown on us all, really. He has taken time to adapt and he's not a huge physical presence who comes steaming on to the training ground and makes you go 'Wow'. He's slight, but you watch him in training and he's settled, he's confident in his surroundings, he's very difficult to dislodge from the ball.

"He makes great decisions on the ball, he's got fast feet, he manipulates it, gets himself out of trouble, knows where the ball is and is a good player. It's not as if I can have open conversations with him, but he's been here a fair while and maybe he feels, not so much let down, but that he came here to play and he hasn't played.

"So I don't know his thoughts other than trying to keep him smiling and keep him happy. He might be thinking, 'I can't wait to get back to Argentina'."

The West Bromwich midfielder Graham Dorrans is expected to return to training today after X-rays revealed he has suffered no serious damage to his right foot.

Dorrans impressed against Sunderland before limping out of the action midway through the second half. He left the ground with an orthopaedic boot on his foot amid initial fears he could face a substantial lay-off.

But it was only a precautionary measure and the Scotland Under-21 international could even be fit for Sunday's encounter with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

He said: "The X-rays came back clear and I've been having some treatment. I'll hopefully be given the go-ahead to return to training on Thursday and we'll see how it is then."