West Brom: 'Frustration' for £7m star at Hawthorns

West Bromwich Albion striker Daryl Dike has endured ‘a real frustrating spell’ since arriving in the January transfer window, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The 21-year-old joined the Baggies from MLS outfit Orlando City for a reported £7 million but has been sidelined by injuries for the majority of his second spell on English shores.

Dike was reunited with former manager Valérien Ismaël at the Hawthorns after their successful spell together at Barnsley last term, although the reconciliation was short-lived.

The USA international came on as a substitute to make his West Brom debut before securing his first start against Peterborough United in a 3-0 victory on 22nd January.

However, a hamstring injury picked up against the Posh then consigned Dike to the treatment table for a lengthy spell, and Ismael was relieved of his duties just a week or so later.

It seemed as though the powerful forward was close to making his comeback last month, with the fixture against Bristol City on 19th March being touted as the game he was targeting to return for.

But a fresh issue with a tendon behind his knee was discovered on the same leg, and new boss Steve Bruce has revealed it’s ‘debateable’ whether Dike will pull on an Albion shirt again this term.

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“It’s a frustration for him because he was going along very nicely,” Bruce said. “He has felt something, it’s not his previous injury, however, he is still uncomfortable, and we are going to give him as much time as he needs.

“Whether he features between now and the end of the season is probably debatable.”

After playing just 84 minutes across two appearances since his winter arrival, O’Rourke believes Dike hasn’t been