Don Goodman: ‘I felt like crying’ after what happened to West Brom star Dike
Don Goodman is uncertain about the impact Daryl Dike can have at West Brom when he returns from the injury that has kept him sidelined since February 2024.
Dike, having been out for almost 12 months, could make his return to first-team action when the Baggies face Sheffield Wednesday on 8 February [DOOD].
With the injury to Josh Maja and the unknown entity in Will Lankshear, the hopes will be that Dike can somewhat hit the ground running but when speaking to West Brom News, Goodman was uncertain.
“Yeah, it could be [a boost],” explained Goodman. “It’s a case of what player are you getting back?
“He’s been such a long time out without playing regular first-team football that it’s very, very hard to know what Daryl Dike you’re going to get back, the psychological element of what he’s been through.
“I was there at Portman Road when he got injured and I felt like crying, let alone watching him being driven off the side of the pitch in tears. It was just heartbreaking.
“So you just wonder whether or not there will be some psychological impact. Look, I hope and I pray that he can get back to the player that he was at Barnsley because that’s the Daryl Dike that West Brom wanted to buy. That’s the reason that they bought him.”
West Brom need bodies back
Although it’s hard to expect too much of Dike given his lengthy absence, the option of having him in the squad will be crucial and if Tony Mowbray can get him back to his best, it provides the Baggies with an excellent Championships striker.
West Brom need a full squad fit and raring to go if they are to go on and achieve their ultimate goal of promotion, in which they find themselves in an excellent position.
As things stand, West Brom occupy sixth in the Championship although only three points separate them from 10th, which is the position occupied by Wednesday whom they face next weekend.
With the signing of Lankshear, Dike will have slightly more leeway to get back up to speed and get back into the swing of things to aid the Baggies’ promotion push.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies have spoken to the agent of this player as a potential update emerges on Uros Racic.
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