Corberan drops big Daryl Dike injury update as West Brom striker nears return
Carlos Corberan has revealed Daryl Dike is close to first team training at West Brom ahead of his long-awaited return.
The 24-year-old has been training with the Under-21s side in the last few weeks as he enters the final phase of his rehabilitation from an eight-month injury layoff.
West Brom are managing his workload at The Hawthorns and Corberan shared with the Birmingham Mail [22 October] if all goes to plan, today will be his final day with the youth side ahead of a first team return.
“Before Dike plays with the under 21s he must train with the first team. He hasn’t done that yet.
“He must do game situation drills with the first-team. Today [Tuesday] is the last day of him making game situations with the under 21s. We understand that after he completes training with the under 21s, he will have the green light to be introduced to drill games with the first team.
“Dike was an important player who was brought to the club nearly three years ago. I understand there are going to be expectations on him.
“I am managing calmly his process to come back with the group. He has suffered two important injuries which have meant he has been 16,17,18 months out of the last 24 months.”
West Brom fans will be ecstatic as Daryl Dike nears his return
Dike has endured torrid luck at West Brom, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town last season only four matches after recovering from the same injury.
The Baggies are also on a torrid run in the Championship, Dane Scarlett’s 92 minute equaliser at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday [19 October] marked the fourth consecutive match without a victory for Corberan.
Josh Maja remains joint-top of the goalscoring charts with Norwich City forward Borja Sainz for now, but the Nigerian has failed to find the back of the net in his last three outings, the potential return of Dike could not be more aptly timed.
The American is a beloved figure among the West Brom faithful and, while it will take time for him to get up to speed in the Championship after a prolonged absence from football, Dike is more than capable of hitting the ground running immediately after his return.
Corberan must return to winning ways against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday [23 October], with a four-point gap between the Baggies and league leaders Sunderland, the side cannot afford to drop more valuable points.
In other West Brom news, Alex Mowatt has a new midfield partner after what a Baggies ace did against Oxford United.
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