Mowbray confident that Dutchman Zuiverloon can succeed for Albion

The Dutch Under-21 international is required to play for his country in the Olympic Games in Beijing and will definitely be ruled out of the league opener with Arsenal.  

Albion's £3.2 million capture from Herenveen could miss more games if Holland progress to the latter stages of the tournament.  

Backed to shine: Gianni Zuiverloon will be a success in the top flight believes Baggies boss Mowbray

But Mowbray is convinced he will be a good acquisition although he may take time to adjust to the demands of the Premier League.  

Mowbray said: 'We will lose Gianni to the Olympic Games but we knew that from the very start. He's been in the Dutch team right through the build-up. 

'How long he is away for depends on how well Holland do. He'll definitely miss the first game with Arsenal definitely - there could also be more.  

'He won't be coming away on tour with us to Holland and Germany but then he was only playing for the Dutch U21 team three weeks ago so he will have a week off and then start preparing for Beijing.' 

Mowbray continued: 'I first saw Gianni playing against us last year in a friendly for Herenveen. I liked his attributes and I had the opportunity to go and watch him three or four times live. 

'I tend to buy assets in footballers and, when the chance came, we made an enquiry and I'm delighted he's joined us.

'Now I hope he can adjust to the Premier League very quickly. He's the right age, has the right athleticism, the right qualities on the ball. I'm confident he'll be a good acquisition.

'It's a big step but, what I like about Gianni, is the confidence he carries around with him. I worked with a few Dutch players at Ipswich and they do have a certain swagger about them.  

'If you manage that properly, you get the best out of them. At the same time, He's someone we've brought in for today but also for tomorrow.  

'He will get stronger and stronger, and he will need to, because the English game is a lot different to where he's just come from.'

Mowbray admits he is a fan of Dutch football which goes hand in hand with his own philosophy of trying to play a passing game.  

He added: 'Dutch football fits into the philosophy of what we're trying to do here. We want players who are comfortable with the ball at their feet.  

'By the nature of Dutch football, they develop the ability to deal with one on ones and in the Premier League we are going to have to do that. It's the nature of the way we play.'