Steve Bruce says Karlan Grant ‘better as a striker’ for West Brom
Steve Bruce has revealed that he sees Karlan Grant as a central striker after he scored twice in last weekend’s win for West Brom over Hull.
The 24-year-old has played the vast majority of his career as a left winger, but started up front alongside Callum Robinson and scored both goals in a 2-0 win to hand Bruce his first win as Baggies manager.
Now ahead of a clash at The Hawthorns with his former side Huddersfield, Bruce has revealed in his pre-game presser that he has ‘always believed’ Grant is better as a striker and claimed he tried to sign him for Newcastle too as a number 9.
“I saw him play at Charlton as a kid before he got his move to Huddersfield and I always felt then he was a striker,” Bruce said.
“Then when he was at Huddersfield, I sent my coaches Steve Clemence and Steve Agnew to go and watch him when we were at Newcastle.
“They came back with a glowing report. They felt he was a centre-forward. And when you look at his statistics – he’s got one in three in the Championship.
“We needed to do something different at Hull. And I always enjoy playing two up top – whether that is a number 10 and a number nine. Thankfully, it worked and I felt the two of them were a threat.
“Karlan is a threat because he wants to run in behind, which is important these days. If you look at the two of them, Karlan has set up goals for Callum, and Callum for Karlan. There is a natural understanding there.
“The assists and the goals they have got between each other has been a big part of this season. That’s why I paired the two of them together.”
Central
Grant has always had the mark of a goalscorer in him, and he proved that last week against Hull with his brace.
His movement has always been good and his variety of finishes have always been reliable, but it’s something that the Baggies have really missed this season.
Since October 30th, West Brom have scored just 12 goals in the Championship and Grant has been the man to find the net on five of those occasions, setting up three more.
He is central to everything good attacking that happens at the club and now he will literally be central to their plans going forward under Bruce at least for the remainder of the season.
He is the great hope that their season is now relying upon and he usually thrives under that sort of pressure, so now it’s time to see if he can deliver from a striker’s position.
In other West Brom news, View: One change to be made in key position – West Brom Predicted XI v Huddersfield