Verdict: In-form West Brom player should not be in starting XI any time soon
Hal Robson-Kanu may have scored three goals in his last four appearances for West Brom but for now, the Welsh forward should not be included in Slaven Bilic’s starting line-up.
West Brom went top of the Championship standings on Monday night with Robson-Kanu, 30, scoring his third goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 2-0 win away against Stoke City.
As good as the Baggies have been under Bilic, one major gripe among the supporters is how the club’s strikers have really struggled to get among the goals.
Last season, The Hawthorns faithful were treated to Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez scoring 46 goals between them.
By this stage of the 2018/19 league campaign, Gayle and Rodriguez had 16 goals between them yet this term, Charlie Austin, Kenneth Zohore and Robson-Kanu have a combined total of just six.
Robson-Kanu is West Brom’s top-scoring striker at the moment after his recent spell of strong form, netting three goals against each of Middlesbrough, Charlton and Stoke.
Zohore has scored twice for the Baggies but both of his strikes came from the penalty spot in August while Austin – Bilic’s first-choice striker – has just one league goal to his name.
It should be simple for Bilic to decide who starts for West Brom in that case. Albion play a 4-2-3-1 system and the lone striker should be in-form Robson-Kanu – right?
If only it was that simple.
Robson-Kanu is at his best when used as an impact substitute.
Since joining West Brom on a free transfer in August 2016, the ex-Reading forward has scored 12 goals for the Black Country club with eight of those coming when he has been sent on as a substitute.
This season, Robson-Kanu has started just once in the league when Bilic selected him to spearhead the attack away at Leeds in October, but that was by far and away the Welshman’s worst display of the campaign.
According to stats by WhoScored, Robson-Kanu managed just one shot at goal at Elland Road but in his last five appearances off the bench, he has only had fewer than two shots at goal on one occasion.
Bilic has a bit of a headache when it comes to his strikers.
Austin is not scoring as often as expected and not having much of an impact in matches while Zohore has been injured and is yet to score from open play.
Robson-Kanu is also best off staying on the bench for the foreseeable future because that is what is working for the Baggies at the moment.
So who starts up front against Hull City when West Brom travel to the KCOM on Saturday?
Austin’s had plenty of chances lately and maybe it is time for Zohore to get another crack at leading the Albion attack.
And if that does not go to plan, just chuck Robson-Kanu on in the second half again and watch him change the game.
In other West Brom news, David Prutton has offered his prediction for Albion’s clash against Hull.