James Morrison Draws Caleb Taylor Comparison as Millwall Man Makes First West Brom Return
By Lewis Cox, Multi-Media Sports Journalist
Published 10th April 2026, 15:01 BST
Updated 10th April 2026, 15:01 BST
James Morrison has expressed his admiration for Caleb Taylor as the defender prepares for his first return to The Hawthorns with Millwall on Friday night. The Baggies-nurtured prospect, who moved to Millwall last summer in a £2.5 million deal, has flourished in his debut Championship season, drawing parallels to Morrison's own career journey.
Taylor's Rise in the Championship
Caleb Taylor, a 23-year-old centre-back, has made a significant impact at Millwall, clocking up 26 appearances this season, including 25 in the Championship, and scoring three goals. His development comes after limited opportunities at West Brom, where he made just four substitute league appearances and eight more in cup competitions, despite impressive loan spells in the Football League.
Morrison, who coached Taylor in Albion's youth ranks, noted the defender's professionalism and determination. "I'm really pleased for him," Morrison said. "As a young player, he was an example to everyone in terms of professionalism, the will to try to get into first-team football."
Morrison's Personal Reflection
The situation reminded Morrison of his own move from Middlesbrough to West Brom as a 19-year-old in 2007. He explained that Taylor was likely unlucky during his time at Albion, with senior players blocking his path to regular first-team action. "You probably don't want to leave, you have that title of being young player, and you go into a new club as a first-team player and you just fly a bit and that's what he's done," Morrison added, highlighting Taylor's success at Millwall.
Taylor's Journey and Challenges
Before his move to Millwall, Taylor had loan spells at League One clubs Cheltenham, Bolton, and Wycombe between 2022 and 2025. His time at Wycombe was interrupted by an Albion recall in January 2025 due to injuries, where he started in an FA Cup third-round tie at Bournemouth, scoring the opening goal in a 5-1 defeat. However, with other centre-backs returning to fitness, Taylor found himself out of the side again, leading to his determination to secure regular playing time elsewhere.
Morrison reflected on this period, suggesting that Taylor might have seized his opportunity if he had stayed in the team after the Bournemouth game. "Maybe when he got into the FA Cup game against Bournemouth when he scored, maybe that was his time to keep playing. He probably wouldn't have looked back," he said. "But we had good centre-halves there. Again, he's done really well, so it's good for him."
As Taylor returns to The Hawthorns, his journey serves as a testament to resilience and growth in professional football, with Morrison's insights adding depth to the narrative of young players navigating their careers in the competitive Championship environment.
