Carlos Corberan compares Daryl Dike to new signing as West Brom ace made to wait for return
Carlos Corberan has said that Daryl Dike will be like a new signing for West Brom when he returns from his long-term injury in January.
The American striker has yet to play this season after picking up his third major injury since arriving at The Hawthorns and the 23-year-old is not expected to return to Baggies action until after Christmas following his Achilles rupture in April.
Given the current financial uncertainty at The Hawthorns and the lack of investment into Corberan’s side during the summer transfer window, the Albion manager has compared the striker’s return to that of a new January arrival, rather than a return from injury.
As quoted by the Express & Star (16 October) he said: “The same process, he’s very committed with the club. He’s very committed with his recovery, but it’s a very long-term injury, so he’s one player that I cannot expect to play until January.
“He will be one of the new players for January, in the January market we will add to the squad.”
New addition
Few players have had as poor luck with fitness issues as Dike since he made the switch to the Midlands with the Baggies, as the powerful forward has been unable to go more than a few months without picking up some kind of major injury.
Hopefully, when he returns to first-team action he’ll finally be able to put his recent woes behind him and rediscover the form that made him so lethal in England’s second tier with Barnsley during his loan spell from Orlando City.
Another positive for West Brom supporters is that Corberan seems certain that the Baggies will add to their squad in January and hopefully, that will entail some more genuine new signings rather than just a whole host of players who are recovering from injury.
There was very little incoming business completed at The Hawthorns over the summer, with the former Huddersfield Town boss restricted to operating in the loan and free-agent market, with only three additions being made to the squad without a penny being spent.
Despite the lack of financial backing, Corberan’s side have started the campaign well and with the combination of a few returning faces, like Dike, and a couple of quality additions in January, there is no reason that the Baggies can’t enter the battle for the play-off positions once again.
In other West Brom news, Corberan has admitted the Baggies have a special focus on one injury-prone player