GRAHAM POTTER has praised the “unique” qualities of Glenn Murray after putting him back on the Albion frontline.

Potter turned to his senior striker for the final push at Everton having left him out of his 18 altogether for the previous Premier League match against Chelsea.

Teenage striker Aaron Connolly was rested and did not make the matchday squad at Goodison Park.

Murray has been linked with loan interest from elsewhere but his late run-out underlined what he can still offer Albion although he would have loved to have scored the goal which headed off a 1-0 defeat.

He was denied by a fine save from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and later guided an effort narrowly wide.

Head coach Potter told The Argus: “I think Glenn is unique in terms of how he plays football and his attributes. We haven’t got another player like him.

“That is why I say to him I don’t want him to be Neal (Maupay), I don’t want him to be Aaron, I want him to be him.

“When he is him, you see what he brings to the team.

“We wanted him to affect the penalty area.

“Be as high as possible close to the goal.

“If the ball goes into the box, he has that knack of putting it in the net.”

Albion would be willing to allow Murray to leave were that his wish and would not necessarily prevent him joining a Prem rival such as Aston Villa, who have been linked.

A well-placed source said “it certainly wouldn’t be the first choice to give a direct rival a lift up” but added Albion were willing to be “pragmatic” if necessary.

The Argus revealed on January 1 that Albion are willing to show confidence in their current frontmen despite being speculatively linked with a host of names from overseas who we have been told are not of interest.

They are also keen to manage Connolly carefully.

Potter said: “He is 19, he is a young player, he is learning about the Premier League. He is learning on and off the pitch how to be a top player and we need to help him with that.”

Aaron Mooy missed the Everton game with a knee injury but is expected to be fit to face Aston Villa on Saturday.

A report that Chelsea have made an inquiry to Albion about signing Lewis Dunk has been dismissed by a good source as “absolute nonsense”.