Darren Moore happy to have Matt Phillips in thick of it for West Brom
Boss Darren Moore has heaped praise on Albion's Matt Phillips for making a seamless transition to his new midfield role.
The 27-year-old, who has been a winger for most of his career, has moved to the centre of the park and shone for the Baggies.
He was among the star performers in Friday's 2-1 triumph at Ipswich, pressing relentlessly and coming up with the assist for Harvey Barnes's second-half strike.
"He's experienced and it's another player showing his versatility," said Moore. "He's enjoyed it in there over the last couple of games.
"It's another string to his bow. It's a great one for us, to have him in there.
"He's a good, intelligent footballer. It's a position we've looked at, and he's taken to it like a duck to water, in terms of his application in the position – working inside the pitch."
Phillips also played there as Albion stormed to a stunning 4-1 win against fellow high-flyers Leeds before the international break.
And his display at Portman Road was all the more impressive considering the quick turnaround from duty with Scotland – helping them clinch a play-off place for Euro 2020 with promotion from Group C1 of the Nations League.
Moore believes having Phillips, who has also filled in as a wing-back in his near two-and-a-half years at The Hawthorns, in the thick of the action accentuates his strengths.
Out wide, he may drift in and out of games – but with him now being in the middle, there could be scope for him to grab more goals. He has netted five times so far this campaign.
"We can have him playing in that position, with his goal threat. And he's a strong, powerful boy," added Moore.
"We know what we can do out on the flanks, but it's nice to have that added advantage that he can be just as effective inside the pitch."
Albion signed Phillips from QPR for around £5million and his contract runs until the summer of 2020.
Premier League side Cardiff City were keen to snap him up from the Baggies this past summer but put off by the £15m asking price.
Former Hawthorns chief Tony Pulis wanted a reunion with Phillips at Middlesbrough too before he got back to his best under Moore.
