West Brom striker Daryl Dike could be facing the pressure for USMNT spot after Folarin Balogun news
West Brom striker Daryl Dike could be feeling the pressure while on international duty for the USMNT after caretaker coach Anthony Hudson spoke out on the future of Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, 21, has taken the European stage by storm this season, netting 17 goals from 27 games for Stade Reims this season, and he could now become an international competitor for Dike to compete against.
The Gunners forward is considering switching his allegiances at national level, after playing for England since the age of 16, but being eligible to play for the United States due to being born in New York.
After an Instagram post on Wednesday (22 March) showed Balogun outside an Orlando bar, he released a picture on Twitter training in the same city as the U.S. national team.
On the topic of Balogun, interim manager Hudson said: “As I said before, we’ve had dialogue we’ve spoken. [Daily Mail, 24 March]
“He’s out here, having a bit of a break and some training, and we’ve had some discussions. So yeah, now it’s about him just enjoying the rest of his trip.”
If Balogun were to change his allegiances, Dike’s long-term position in the national set-up could come under pressure.
The Baggies striker has netted three goals from just eight appearances for his country, a tally that has been limited due to several long-term injuries and fitness concerns, which also kept him out of the Qatar World Cup.
And despite being recalled to Hudson’s squad for the upcoming internationals against Grenada and El Salvador, Dike has never fully settled himself into a role with the USMNT and will definitely feel the heat to get his name on the scoresheet over the coming week.
Under Carlos Corberan this season, the 22-year-old has finally started to find his feet at The Hawthorns after his marquee £7million move in January 2022, netting seven goals from 19 outings.
Whether Balogun and Dike could ever take to the field together as a strike partnership is unclear, but the West Brom striker will want to make an early stake for the USMNT number nine shirt going into the 2026 World Cup.
In other West Brom news, one Albion player is “heating up” amid a trip to his old hunting ground while on international duty.