West Brom strikers need to be at ‘maximum levels’ to be permanent starters – Carlos Corberan
Carlos Corberan has challenged West Brom strikers Daryl Dike and Brandon Thomas-Asante to perform at their ‘maximum levels’ if they are to be regular starters in his team.
Dike netted a brace in a 2-0 triumph against an in-form Middlesbrough on Saturday to keep their playoff hopes alive, scoring his first goals for the club in over a month.
The USA international is now up to five goals for the season, two behind top scorer Thomas-Asante in all competitions who has yet to score for the club since early-January.
Corberan has constantly tinkered with who starts as the club’s lone frontman in recent weeks, and the Spaniard admitted the both forwards have vital roles to play for the remainder of the campaign.
Speaking to Express & Star [28 February], he said: “I think both players can have both roles.
“I think both players must compete at their maximum level to be a starting player. I am watching them and I make the decision.
“It’s about every single thing. It’s true that Asante didn’t score in the previous game but his level of effort, his performance in the previous game at home against Blackburn was excellent.
“Watford I didn’t think we attacked well enough, but he was well in the game too.
“When Dike arrived into the (Watford) game, he was helping the team too to keep performing well in attack.
“Against Middlesbrough for me, the striker had a high responsibility to defend well, too. For me, I am very pleased about how the strikers were making a balance between both parts.”
Boost
Dike’s double against Middlesbrough has certainly provided the Baggies with a much needed confidence boost, recording their first win in the league in four games.
In a game which the Baggies desperately needed to grab all three points, Corberan will have been expecting top-level performances from his attacking stars who have rather faltered in recent weeks.
And Dike duly delivered against one of the Championshio’s most in-form teams, but it is vitally important the player keeps this form up, especially with his nation watching his performances in the lead-up to the next international break.
The same must be said of Thomas-Asante. The onus is now on him to get back to scoring ways too as Corberan really needs more goals from his front-men if they are to mount a serious challenge within the playoff places.
The Spaniard mustn’t forget, he still has Karlan Grant to call upon too as his Championship experience and past goalscoring exploits could prove vital to Albion’s chances.
In other West Brom news, Albion fans have been urged to look at the bigger picture when it comes to this first-team player.