Mowbray: Borja'll be back!

Last updated : 18 March 2009 By Wba-mad Editor

Tony Mowbray has admitted Borja Valero needed a rest from first-team football after suffering a dip in form and confidence. After making his Premier League debut back in August the £4.7 million midfielder has missed just two games prior to his admission against Arsenal and West Ham.

The Baggies boss admitted the pressures of a Premier League relegation scrap had taken their toll on the Spanish playmaker but has backed the stylish midfielder to come back stronger than ever in the Baggies' final nine games.

"I have got great confidence and faith in Borja Valero," Mowbray said.

"For me he is a top footballer.

"I think he is a top-six Premier League footballer with his talent and quality but his confidence is a little bit low at the moment because of the fact we have been losing football match after football match.

"At times there is a fine balance between playing someone like Graham Dorrans, who is confident and showing it every time he goes on the pitch, and Borja, who is finding the tempo week in , week out, and defeat on defeat a bit hard.

"I think he will benefit from having a rest for a week or two and then I am pretty sure he will come back strongly."

Scottish Under-21 star Dorrans impressed in place of Valero on his Premier League debut against West Ham but Mowbray has warned the youngster to keep his feet on floor with Valero and Kim Do-Heon waiting in the wings.

"I don't see why he (Dorrans) can't have a run in the team, and yet I probably will drop him in and take him out again," Mowbray admitted.

"I am not finished with the likes of Do-heon Kim and Borja Valero, who are top quality footballers with great ability to retain the ball and spray it around the pitch.

"Both those players at the moment are a little low on confidence because you can only take so many defeats and so many knock-backs, especially when you play reasonably well, like we did at Everton, and still lose the match.

"It is very difficult for players to keep going and that's why sometimes you make a few changes and put some in some hungry footballers, who I see in training every day are desperate to be given a chance.

"They were given a chance and they did very well on Monday."