West Brom head coach James Morrison has welcomed the decision by full-back Brayann Pereira to turn down an international call-up and remain at The Hawthorns during the international break, saying the extra training time has accelerated the defender's integration into his side.

A calculated call from a new arrival

Pereira, 23, joined the Baggies on transfer deadline day from Dutch club NEC Nijmegen and was eligible to travel for DR Congo's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He previously represented France at youth level up to under-20, before switching his international allegiance. Instead of making that trip, he opted to stay in England and work directly with the coaching staff.

Morrison did not shy away from why that mattered. "He probably realised he needs a bit of work to fit into the system," the West Brom boss told BBC WM. "When we signed him we knew he played in a different way but we've seen his attributes. We've been working with him a lot over the period so I welcome that."

That is a candid assessment, and a fair one. A player arriving from Dutch football on deadline day has precious little runway to absorb a new defensive shape before competitive matches resume. The Championship's intensity, its physicality and the specific demands of a full-back role within any given system can take weeks to properly internalise. The fact that Morrison is being open about that process, rather than papering over it with platitudes, is worth noting.

Learning from a difficult debut

Pereira's introduction to Championship football was not straightforward. He was sent off on his debut, a 1-0 win at Derby, and served a suspension as a consequence. Morrison's view is that the red card carries its own lesson.

"As a player you know [when you've made a mistake] and I think he learned his lesson," Morrison said. "How he plays he's always on the front foot so he'll learn a lot from that and will be wanting to put it right."

That description, "always on the front foot", is both a compliment and an explanation of the risk. An aggressive, attack-minded full-back who presses high and engages early is an asset in the modern game, but it is also the profile most likely to be caught out in transition, or to lunge in when the situation calls for patience. The discipline to know when not to press is often the last thing that clicks for players of that type. Morrison appears to understand this, and the extra training block presumably addressed exactly that.

Ready to go against Birmingham City

With his suspension now served, Pereira is available for West Brom's Championship fixture at home to Birmingham City on Saturday (12:30 BST). That will be the first real opportunity to judge whether the work done during the break has translated into a more settled display.

Morrison's closing remarks on the matter were measured but optimistic. "He's taken on board a lot of information and I've been really happy with him so he'll be ready to go." That stops well short of a ringing endorsement, but it is consistent with what a responsible manager would say about a new signing who is still finding his feet.

We do not yet have enough Championship appearances from Pereira to draw firm conclusions about how he is settling. One debut, one red card and one suspension is too small a sample. What Saturday brings against Birmingham will tell us considerably more about whether turning down that call-up was the right call for both player and club.

Frequently asked

Who is Brayann Pereira and where did West Brom sign him from?
Brayann Pereira is a 23-year-old full-back who joined West Brom on transfer deadline day from Dutch club NEC Nijmegen. He previously represented France at youth level before switching his international allegiance to DR Congo.
Why did Brayann Pereira miss the international break with DR Congo?
Pereira chose to turn down DR Congo's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier call-up and remain at The Hawthorns to train with West Brom. Head coach James Morrison said the extra time helped the defender settle into the club's system.
When is Brayann Pereira available to play for West Brom again?
Pereira is available for West Brom's home Championship fixture against Birmingham City on Saturday (12:30 BST), having served a suspension earned after being sent off on his debut against Derby.