West Brom man 'like a jigsaw' - James Morrison's Rabby Nzingoula jest
Rabby Nzingoula has excited Albion supporters for the most part in the early months of his Baggies career.
Albion boss James Morrison has called for summer recruit Rabby Nzingoula to sharpen up in the final third - after comparing him to a “jigsaw falling to pieces in the box”.
Frenchman Nzingoula has looked an exciting prospect for the Baggies so far this season after a summer switch from Strasbourg in his homeland.
The 20-year-old has been finding his feet in England football and the demands of the Championship and has started in five of 12 Championship fixtures so far - but appeared as a substitute in the other seven.
Nzingoula has yet to register a goal or assist for his new club but it has not been for the lack of trying for the forward-thinking, adventurous France youth international.
Head coach Morrison, however, jested his midfielder was guilty of “falling to pieces in the box” like a “jigsaw” and wants more end product after Nzingoula spurned a fine late chance in the 1-1 draw at Preston last time out.
"He's a jigsaw, isn't he? He falls to pieces in the box!” Morrison smiled.
"That's a part of his development, getting better in the box, but he's getting there.
"Opportunities - how many games has he played now? 13? He needs to start with his creativity and outcomes.
"Because all I can remember is he's had one shot. One wide last week (against Blackburn), one that a keeper tipped over the bar at home, it's all I can remember."
Nzingoula decided to avoid getting a strike on goal in front of an expectant away end at Deepdale having been played in by Jimmy-Jay Morgan deep into stoppage time.
He instead turned into traffic and the move was smothered out.
Nzingoula was also guilty of taking too much time seconds before Barney Stewart netted Albion’s first goal in the recent 3-2 comeback victory over Blackburn at The Hawthorns.
Later in the same fixture he lashed wide with his left foot in a crucial moment.
Head coach Morrison, meanwhile, revealed midfielder Ousmane Diakite departed Deepdale with an unspecified minor injury. He was substituted off late for Nzingoula in Lancashire.
Diakite had earlier looked like he may have handed Preston a lifeline with a penalty for a high foot on a PNE player, but referee Elliot Bell was unmoved. Replays showed while the tackle was wild, the midfielder cleanly won the ball with little contact.
"I felt he just cleared the ball first, but Oussie came off with a little bit of a problem,” Morrison said.
"Obviously I wanted to leave him on.
"And then Rabby could have been the hero at the end.”
The Baggies boss, who takes his side to relegated Premier League side West Ham on Saturday, reserved some praise for the form of right-back recruit Brayann Pereira.
Pereira, 23, has had to make the position his own following the season-ending knee injury for Nolan Galves. Pereira has responded well from the horror red card nightmare debut at Derby in early September.
The head coach said: “Yes he did (well), he sticks with it. He’s got attributes.
“There are still times where he needs to brush up, but he’s still new to the league, new to the team, still finding his feet.
“But I’m happy with him at the moment.”