West Brom notebook: Dike's warning for the Championship and Griffiths' 11-year plan

West Brom goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and striker Daryl Dike were among the stand-out performers in an Albion shirt on Saturday

16:07, 27 Feb 2023

West Bromwich Albion's Daryl Dike(Image: Leila Coker/REX/Shutterstock)

Daryl Dike has warned the Championship that he is feeling as well as he ever has done during his injury-ravaged spell at West Brom. Dike struck twice inside the opening ten minutes on Saturday to inflict defeat on Middlesbrough and draw level with Brandon Thomas-Asante and Jed Wallace as the club's top scorer in the league this season with five.

That number isn't a patch on the likes of Saturday's opponent Chuba Akpom, or Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres, but in fairness to Dike his season only really started after the return to action after the World Cup because of the injury set-back he suffered at the very beginning of the season. Since, he has scored winners for Albion against Sunderland and Reading and led the line wonderfully at Luton. Against Boro, his goals were reward for his all-round performance.

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Dike, who was watched again by representatives of the USMNT on Saturday when getting the better of compatriot and Boro keeper Zack Steffen and who is in contention for an international call-up next month, is optimistic that his injury woes are behind him and he aims to continue getting stronger - and sharper in front of goal.

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"Yeah for sure this is some of the best shape I've felt since I've been here," Dike said. "It's great, because of the staff, and it's a great confidence thing for me. It's took some time but I'm happy, it's something I've learned from, of course. With football you don't ever want anything bad to happen, but it's not always going to be go smoothly.

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"There are going to be times where maybe you're not fit, things aren't going your way on the pitch, but I think you always know that if you keep working, if you keep doing your thing, it's going to turn around.

"After you keep working, having that support of everybody and when things to turn around, it makes you cherish it that much more. With the recent success of the team and more minutes from me, it's something I look back on and think of all the things I've done, solutions and the help, of course it makes the moment great, it's what I've been waiting for."

Griffiths living the dream

Josh Griffiths, who admits he is finally achieving what he's been planning for for the last 11 years, isn't totally unfamiliar with the first-team environment at Albion - he used to, after all, house-share with centre half and captain Dara O'Shea!

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Keeper Griffiths kept his first Albion clean sheet in the 102nd senior appearance of his career - but only his third in a Baggies keeping top - when Albion beat Boro. That involved him requiring to make a couple of excellent saves, the one at the death especially impressive. He reveals that O'Shea, who he's known for a number of years, keeps him in check, but more generally he's loving the opportunity he's finally been afforded after years of development.

"He's the first one to tell me when I'm not doing so well too," Griffiths joked of O'Shea. "We've known each other for a long time, people won't know but I used to live with him in digs when I was 14 and he was 16. He's always kept in touch when I've been out on loan, he's a really good guy and a fantastic player as well.

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"It's probably only sort of sinking in now, now I've played a few games. I've dreamt about playing for West Brom ever since I signed when I was 10. It's been 11 years now and to finally do it is massive for me. It just motivates me to go on and play as many games as possible."

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