West Brom's Callum Styles grateful to Tony Mowbray for key factor

Left-back Styles is spending the international break recovering from a minor calf strain with the club hopeful he could possibly feature in some capacity in the return at Norwich next Saturday.

The 24-year-old has been in fine form for his club but the recent injury scuppered a deserved international recall to Hungary action.

The versatile Styles, a midfielder earlier in his career, has made the left side of defence his own for Albion and won plaudits for a front-footed style. That mentality tallies with Mowbray's attacking mindset and the former Barnsley man paid tribute to his head coach.

"He’s a top gaffer," Styles said. "He just wants us to express ourselves which is something you need. You need the backing of the manager.

"As long as you work hard, you always have your responsibilities obviously, but apart from that (you can) go and express yourself and do what you feel you need to do.

"It doesn’t happen overnight but the more messages the more time he allows us to do that the better we can be."

Styles added: "I can improve in every area. I’m not the perfect footballer. I’m not Lionel Messi! I’m trying to improve in every aspect I can to help myself and the team."

Albion have eight fixtures remaining to secure their place in the Championship play-offs - with the next five games against sides 13th are above.

Lancashire-born Styles had Championship experience at former club Barnsley as well as loan spells at Millwall and Sunderland - but has always dreamed of top-flight football.

"It’s been a dream of mine since a kid," Styles said of playing in the Premier League. "That’s my ultimate aim in football. Hopefully we can do this season.

"We can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league this season as it’s been shown.

"We believe we are one of the best teams but we just haven’t had that bit of luck I’d say going for us in parts of the season which some of the top teams at the minute have."