West Bromwich Albion have been dealt a huge injury blow to one of their main men…
What’s the latest?
According to Birmingham Live, Daryl Dike’s injury could be worse than initially thought.
They spoke to Steve Bruce, who issued the following statement: “It’s a real frustration for us all, and the boy. He’s young, he’s 22, desperate to go to the World Cup with his nation, and he’s worked tirelessly to get right.
“Yesterday, he kicked a ball and has done something to his thigh which didn’t look very good. We’re hoping it’s not too bad, but from my experience, it’s bad enough the way he pulled up. He kicked a ball, frustrating.
“He knew straight away. He’s devastated, like all of us. We’re devastated for him because he’s really popular with the supporters because of the way he plays, and the way he is.”
Dike signed for the Baggies in January of 2022.
It’s a big blow for Bruce
To lose one of their main men with the Championship season just getting underway, and in such a way that suggests he will be out until the World Cup at least, will rightfully devastate Bruce who could well be left to rue this blow for a number of weeks.
This marks his second serious injury since joining the club, despite no prior record before his signing.
Should West Brom look to sign a new striker in Daryl Dike’s absence?
During the 2020/21 season, he caught the eye with his performances both in the MLS with his parent club Orlando City and for his loan club Barnsley.
Scoring nine Championship goals across 19 games (of which only 13 were starts), he became known for his exceptional physicality and blistering speed, proving integral in their surprise playoff push.
His 7.02 average SofaScore rating actually saw him rank third amongst his teammates that season, despite only joining in January.
He was a standout performer for that promotion hunting Championship side and likely would have been for Bruce’s promotion hunting side. Given a full season in the division, there’s no telling how successful he could have been.
Labelled a “monster” by radio host Jason Davis, the £32k-per-week striker has been struck down at the worst possible time for both himself and his club. Just as he was beginning to settle at one club and hopefully prove what all the hype was about, he was resigned to the treatment table.
Fortunately, at just 22 years old, he has age on his side. It will, however, remain a big blow for Bruce as the new season commences.
