Oliver Burke will become the first Scot to play in La Liga for six years when he makes his debut for Alaves on Sunday.
But West Brom boss Slaven Bilic insists the former Celtic loan star DOES still have a future at West Brom .
Scotland international Burke is on loan with the Spanish side and will make his debut against Sevilla this weekend.
West Brom boss Bilic has barely used Burke since his summer arrival and allowed him to join Alaves where he will be the first Scot to feature in Spain's top flight since Alan Hutton had a loan spell with Real Mallorca six years ago.
The 22-year-old was at pains to state he was never going to live up to initial comparisons with Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale when he was unveiled at Alaves last week.
But Bilic has stressed he still has faith in Burke, who was twice Scotland's most expensive player.
He said: "We have Paul Terry as our loans manager, he makes reports and looks after the loan players but I like to call them and have a chat as well.
"I told Burkey that we didn’t send him there because we have given up on him...on the contrary.
"If I’d given up on the loan players, I’d have kept them here so that we have more cover. That would have stopped them though, they’re young players.
"The plan is to go out, play 90 minutes or 60 minutes, be involved in a team, be part of something through the ups and downs, be responsible and be an important part of something.
"Then come back next season, knock on my door and say I want to play. If he comes back and does that I’ll be happier than him."
Fellow Scot Jack Harper signed for la Liga side Getafe earlier this year but has yet to make an appearance and has been loaned out to Segunda Division AD Alcorcon.
