West Brom manager Valerien Ismael makes ‘important’ Andy Carroll admission

Valerien Ismael has admitted that it was ‘essential’ to bring Andy Carroll into West Brom following Daryl Dike’s injury. 

West Brom moved to sign Andy Carroll on a short-term deal until the end of the season after it was hoped that Dike would end the teams poor form in front of goal.

However, the American pulled his hamstring just after half time on his full debut for the Baggies, meaning he will be out for the next eight weeks.

After that, Ismael felt it was important to move in the market to sign Andy Carroll as he told the Express and Star: “In the short-term it is someone able to help us. Someone to have that impact.

“We saw in Dike’s first start against Peterborough he played 50 minutes and had five chances to score. You see how important it was to get that target man in the box. I think with Andy we have that.”

Albion have struggled in front of goal all season and whilst they have been creating an abudance of chances every game, they struggled to convert them consistently.

That has prompted the departure of Jordan Hugill, who is expected to sign for Cardiff City, so the signing of Carroll makes sense and Ismael is looking at his experience to help his side in the second half of the season: “He has the experience and that can help us to get the power we need in the opponent’s box.

“He is a number nine and this is the reason he is here, to score goals and to have an impact on the opponent’s defensive line.

“He will have an impact on the front three, impact in the opponent’s box, link-up, he has desire and leadership.”

West Brom currently sit fifth in the Championship table, seven points off the automatic promotion places, ahead of their trip to The Den to face Millwall on Saturday afternoon.

The Verdict

The signing