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West Brom boss James Morrison admitted he would have made Alex Mowatt captain this summer and says he "didn't expect" his move to Derby County. Mowatt completed his move to Derby on Friday, with the club paying in the region of £600,000 for the midfielder, who made his debut yesterday as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Charlton. West Brom fans have reacted with surprise at the fee, but Mowatt would have been a free agent next summer and also turns 32 in February. Asked about the move, Morrison told the Express and Star: “I didn’t expect it, but that’s football. I can see why (he was sold), I can see why Alex took the security (of a two-year deal) as well. “You have to get over it pretty quickly. It’s the connection you have with him, what he was like in the dressing room. “He’s been here a number of years, and he’s been a good servant. He was probably the glue in pre-season, knitting it together, but it’s a good opportunity for us to progress in that position.” Mowatt has spent the last five years at Albion and has been a key member of the squad due to his leadership qualities. And Morrison said the midfielder would have been given the armband. “Did I have a say? I can see both sides, the business side and the player’s side, and from my side of really putting the work into him, and I know what a good player he is and how he is in the dressing room. “I had my eyes on him to make him club captain. But I’m happy. “It’s part of football, isn’t it? You’ve got to deal with it. Welcome to management - as simple as that.”