Double boost for James Morrison

Albion midfielder James Morrison was today handed a Scotland recall - after revealing he has signed a new contract to keep him at the Hawthorns at least 2013.

The Baggies star has been included for the first time by new boss Craig Levein for the August 11 friendly with Sweden, more than a year after his last cap.

Morrison last played for Scotland in April 2009, since when injury has ruled him out of the international picture.

But he has been included alongside Hawthorns team-mate Graham Dorrans, Birmingham's James McFadden and Wolves duo Steven Fletcher and Christophe Berra for the match, which takes place in Stockholm just three days before the start of the Premier League season.

The news came after Morrison revealed how he penned the agreement - for three years with an extra year's option - while he was recovering from the gruesome heel infection that wrecked last season for the ex-Middlesbrough man.

He said: "I signed a new deal in February but, to be honest, I wanted it kept low key because I wanted to concentrate on getting fit.

"I wanted to ensure I was over my injury when I signed it.

"But it's quite settling to know that a club wants you to be part of their future."

Morrison moved to the Hawthorns from Boro in 2007 as a £1.5million signing for former boss Tony Mowbray.

He has since made 85 appearances for the Baggies, scoring 10 goals and twice helping them win promotion from the Championship.

He was one of the qualified successes of Mowbray's team's ill-fated Premier League campaign of two seasons ago, drawing admiring glances from a series of other top-flight clubs including Everton.

He said: "As you get older, you mature both as a person and footballer.

"I think I'm happier now than I've ever been and I will probably think about settling in the Birmingham area.

"You obviously never know how football will go - there might be a manager here one day who wants something different. But while it's my choice, I'm happy to stay.

"I love playing at the Hawthorns."