Carlos Corberan shares new Daryl Dike fitness update ahead of West Brom clash v Leeds United
Carlos Corberan says he will “push” his medical department to allow Daryl Dike to feature for West Brom in their clash with Leeds United.
The 23-year-old is yet to make an appearance this season, with his last outing in Albion colours coming back in April due to a ruptured Achilles he suffered against Stoke City.
While Dike has returned to first-team training and is nearing a return, Corberan has admitted he will have to see how the American forward copes following the win over Norwich before confirming his place in the squad for the clash with Leeds on Friday 29 December.
As quoted by Birmingham Live (28 December) he said: “Let’s see with the training – I will push my medical staff and they will push me back, 100 per cent.”
Let’s wait and see
While Corberan has suggested that he will push his medical staff to allow Dike to play for West Brom against Leeds, the Baggies boss won’t be willing to risk the Albion forward’s long-term fitness just to rush him back for Friday night’s clash.
The 23-year-old has the potential to be a real difference maker in the second half of the season at The Hawthorns and if he can find his goalscoring touch, it will be a rule boost to Albion’s hopes of finishing within the playoff places this season.
However, that doesn’t necessarily need to happen against Daniel Farke’s Leeds on Friday. Dike will be more important to the Baggies during the African Cup of Nations when West Brom are set to lose both Grady Diangana and Brandon Thomas-Asante for much of January.
Corberan would be better off easing Dike back over the next couple of matches to help build his fitness so that he is ready to start when Thomas-Asante joins up with his national side.
The last thing West Brom want is to rush Dike back into action, to only lose him for even longer and leave themselves without a striker for the majority of January.
In other West Brom news, Sky Sports presenter David Prutton has predicted the result of the Baggies clash with Leeds United