"I sincerely hope" - Exclusive: West Brom player tipped to deliver big Tony Mowbray boost | OneFootball

Daryl Dike has had his injury nightmares, but could he be ready to fire the Baggies back to the Premier League?

West Brom striker Daryl Dike has not had the impact that he would've wanted at The Hawthorns since his move over three years ago - but it's hard to say that it's his fault.

The Baggies swooped for the American powerhouse in January 2022, with £7 million being sent to Orlando City for the services of the then-21-year-old, in what was one of Valerien Ismael's last transfer acts before he was dismissed a month later as head coach.

Having been a hit under Ismael at Barnsley during the 2020-21 season, much was expected of Dike at the top end of the pitch, but it's fair to say that injuries have not been too kind, and they began just two matches into his Albion career with a hamstring injury that kept him out for the remainder of 2021-22.

Dike's longest stint in the West Brom first-team was between November 2022 and April 2023; prior to that he was sidelined by a thigh tear, and after his five-month run where he was fit and available, the USA international then picked up the first of two serious achilles issues.

Since April 2023, Dike has played just eight times, and naturally there have been running concerns over his fragility and whether or not West Brom fans will ever see the best of the striker.

Daryl Dike tipped to play key part in West Brom play-off push

Dike is now back in action for Albion after nearly a year on the sidelines, and speaking exclusively to Football League World, former Premier League midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit David Prutton

"Daryl Dike trying to hit the heights after that big-money move to West Brom - it's a player that I've see quite a fair bit of from the MLS moving over to England," Prutton said.

"As an ex-pro, your heart does go out to him given what you've seen him go through. The stereotypical physical presence of the man has belied the fact that those injuries have taken their toll.

"An achilles injury that keeps you out for almost a year - mentally that's an extremely tough place to be in. Physically, getting yourself back to that robust shape, to be able to show people what you can do in the Championship is the real test, isn't it?

"I think he could be a key part and adds to an abundance of attacking options going forward for West Brom and Tony Mowbray between now and the end of the season as they look to make the play-offs.

"I just think on a personal level, as an ex-pro and having covered a fair few Daryl Dike games over the course of his career, there's a hard-working goalscorer there that just needs a break and a run of form and fitness, which once again re-affirms what he can do at this level.

"And as a lover of football, I sincerely hope he gets the chance that he can scale those heights that come with a big-money move."

Daryl Dike fears will always be there for West Brom fans after his return to action

Dike still has a big reputation stemming from his Barnsley loan stint four years ago, but the American's career could not have gone much worse since then.

The expectation placed upon Dike's shoulders after his big-money move to the Midlands was huge, but through no fault of his own, he hasn't been able to live up to the billing.

With plenty of competition for game-time at the top end of the pitch now for West Brom under Mowbray, the onus isn't on Dike to come in, start games and score regularly though - it's more to just make an impact in substitute appearances for now whilst he gets back up to full fitness.