Daryl Dike addresses West Brom fans after his injury hammer blow

Daryl Dike has promised he’ll be back ‘stronger than ever’ after suffering a devastating muscle injury which will rule him out for at least the next 11 West Brom games.

Striker Dike was 50 minutes into his second appearance - and his first start - on Saturday when Albion hosted Peterborough at The Hawthorns when he pulled up after challenging for a header. The swift verdict from the medical staff was that he was in no fit state to continue.

Dike, who had a few openings to score his first Albion goal over the course of his outing, rather reluctantly left the pitch and although it was hoped he might miss as little as three weeks, the results returned after the scan Dike had on Monday showed far more serious damage than originally anticipated.

He’s now facing eight weeks on the sidelines, and he has a period now of recovery and rehabilitation in which to ensure he is totally fit and ready to return and spearhead Albion’s attack for however many games are remaining in the season by the time he steps foot on the pitch again.

“Not the dream start I would’ve imagined, but thank you all for the support through it! I will be back stronger than ever and ready to help out,” Dike tweeted.

Boss Valerien Ismael has sympathy for his newest addition, who has suffered this blow just weeks after completing a life-changing move to England.

The Frenchman confirmed that, while it’s hoped Dike will miss 11 games, he’ll be permitted longer if it’s necessary to get him back to the perfect place fitness wise to attack the division.

“You saw his mentality on Saturday. He wanted to carry on on the pitch. It just shows how committed he already was to the club, the team, the staff,” Ismael pointed out.

“It’s a difficult one, but it’s part of