West Brom fans told to look at bigger picture as Daryl Dike struggles in front of goal – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Campbell has told West Brom fans to look at the bigger picture over Daryl Dike’s struggles in front of goal at The Hawthorns.
Dike, 22, missed almost the entirety of his first year as a Baggies player due to a number of serious injury issues.
Since returning to fitness, the USA international has played 13 times in the Championship, starting seven of those games and scoring just three goals.
Dike’s last goal for the Albion came in the 3-2 win at Luton on 14 January and he’s since been left out of Carlos Corberan’s last two starting line-ups.
Campbell feels there’s more to Dike’s struggled in front of goal but admits that strikers are going to be judged by the number of strikes they’re converting.
“It’s not great but if you think about it, West Brom were struggling for long parts of the season. But they’ve picked up and I think it’s all hands to the pump,” Campbell told West Brom News.
“It is a striker’s job to score goals – of course it is. But I think with a new manager, it’s a matter of getting the right balance.
“You also need to look at who’s playing with Dike and not scoring. Sometimes one player is not scoring and one player is scoring. It’s that partnership that helps.
“I think there are a lot more factors here to look at.
“Yes, if you look at the numbers, it’s not great. But there are sometimes a lot more factors to it.”
Dike has played 18 times in all competitions since joining West Brom from Orlando City in January 2022 for over £7million, scoring just three goals.
Valerien Ismael signed the American off the back of working alongside him successfully during a loan spell at Barnsley.
Ismael was however asked not long after Dike’s arrival and he’s missed over 30 games since due to hamstring and thigh injuries.
In other West Brom news, Albion have completed an under-the-radar singing after a player was spotted at The Hawthorns with his new club’s kit.