West Brom's injury plan for Daryl Dike as Tony Mowbray updates on Kyle Bartley
West Brom injury update as Tony Mowbray discusses the fitness of a couple of the players he has inherited
West Bromwich Albion will hope to welcome back Daryl Dike in the coming weeks as he nears the one-year anniversary of his fateful Achilles injury suffered at Ipswich Town. US international Dike has endured rotten luck with injuries right the way through his three-year spell at The Hawthorns, but is closing in on his latest return - just at a time when Albion are in desperate need of a centre forward to lead the line.
After the loss of top scorer Josh Maja to a leg injury which is sure to keep him out for the next six weeks at least, Dike's comeback would be most welcome, although Albion, as they must considering the striker's track record, will proceed with caution. Dike has suffered injuries to both Achilles, a thigh and two hamstrings since joining from Orlando in 2022.
Returning boss Tony Mowbray, who witnessed the striker score the winner against his Sunderland side in December 2022, has seen Dike work in training this week since he rejoined the club and knows that handling the player's workload is of the utmost importance.
"He's on the grass," Mowbray said. "The sports science department still pull him out of sessions when they think he's done enough. They all have these monitors and when he hits a certain number, his session is finished. Any more might put him in jeopardy. He gets a bit frustrated because he wants to keep going, but the bottom line is I bow to the scientists, really.
"This week this is your load, next week we'll increase it and then the week after, you're free to go and you have to get in the team. There is a plan for what he needs to do at the moment, which is a bit frustrating for him because he is thinking he wants to get out there and train like everybody else. Of course, we don't want him to break down.
"He scored a great goal against Sunderland, I remember, when I was there and Wallace whipped in a great cross. I remember the threat that he posed. Any coach wants all of their players fit but the reality is you never get them all fit. There are one or two carrying knocks."
Kyle Bartley, meanwhile, is nearing a return to training. He has missed the last four matches.
"I spoke to him yesterday and he's training on Monday," Mowbray added. "He might need a week's training. If he's in on Monday, let's see how he feels after a week's training. Hopefully we get a clean sheet tomorrow and we don't need to throw him straight back in."