Daryl Dike in worrying new injury update as West Brom star misses training
Daryl Dike has been fresh out of luck since joining West Brom over three years ago, besieged by injury woes.
The USMNT striker returned with a 14-minute cameo from the bench in the 1-1 draw at Millwall last Saturday (15 February) in what was his first appearance in a year.
A landmark occasion it may be for the American, but the Baggies must ensure they do not throw too much his way too soon.
West Brom have strikers available, no need to rush Dike
West Brom are enduring a precarious medical situation with Dike, whose Achilles injury has so far defined his time at The Hawthorns.
The 24-year-old has only made 33 appearances since arriving in January 2022, and Tony Mowbray has explained a desire for Albion to reintegrate him through substitute appearances for the foreseeable future.
However, Dike continues to regularly miss training while being assessed, and could head into Saturday’s Hawthorns showdown with Oxford United (22 February) with only one session behind him.
“Daryl is still in the mode where the medical team look after him – he doesn’t train every day, they manage his minutes through the working week,” Mowbray told the Express & Star.
“He didn’t train [Thursday], for instance, but he’ll certainly train Friday and we’ll see how he is.
“We just have to keep seeing if we can get him game time from the bench as we go along for the immediate future.”
While Mowbray and the medical staff will feel as if they are gradually placing Dike back in a West Brom shirt the adequate amount, it will appear to supporters that he is being unnecessarily rushed back when plentiful forward alternatives are available.
Albion signed trio of forwards in winter
Of course, Dike will be pushing to return on a more regular basis and will be desperate to train on the grass every day – however, the depth of his injuries has made this transition period extremely delicate.
One wrong move could incite another setback lasting months, and West Brom have far from a forward emergency.
The winter transfer window saw the Baggies bring in three capable striker options in the shape of Adam Armstrong, Will Lankshear and Tammer Bany. They are all fully fit, desperate for game time and should not be dispensed with in favour of a striker nowhere near match-sharp.
The Baggies are able to take their time with the amiable American, and should take advantage of that. There is certainly an argument to suggest Dike would seldom receive game time with the current pecking order even if he was fully fit.
Josh Maja is even a sidelined player who doesn’t need to be rushed back into the setup, despite having 12 goals to his name in the Championship this campaign.
If Maja can be rested for a length of time which ensures he is fit and firing upon his comeback, then Dike can be too. Hopefully the Baggies will not live to regret their decision, and the medical staff are 100 per cent sure of clearing the frontman to play more regularly.