SBI Spotlight: Daryl Dike struggles to get back to his best at West Bromwich Albion

When healthy, Daryl Dike has been an influential player for English second division side West Bromwich Albion, but his time in England has been severely hampered by injuries.

Two cruciate ligament tears and hamstring and thigh problems have cost Dike 98 games in his two years with the Baggies, a pattern that continues into the early stages of the 2024/25 season. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old striker continues to fight vigorously to get back to his best, knowing the skills he has on the field.

It will be some time before Dike is back on the pitch for promotion-hungry West Bromwich, but he remains in good spirits mentally and physically.

“Rehab has been pretty good so far,” Dike said in an interview with SBI. “Compared to my other injuries, it's honestly been a lot better, everything is a lot easier in the gym. I'm outside more and not just inside. It's definitely been a bright spot for me. Hopefully I can get back to full training in the next month or so, but right now I'm taking it step by step and making sure I'm fully ready when the time comes.

“After a lot of injuries, it's easy to be a little upset, but I tell myself I still have a lot of time,” added Dike. “I'm 24 years old and I know there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Every day I'm here, I work to put myself in the best position so I can play a role for the team this season.”

Dike's most productive period was the 2022/23 season, in which he scored seven goals in 17 appearances. However, a first serious cruciate ligament injury ended Dike's season abruptly and forced him out for most of the 2023/24 season.

However, he returned with a bang, scoring a goal in the FA Cup victory over Aldershot Town at The Hawthorns last January. Unfortunately, a renewed cruciate ligament injury ended his return after just five appearances, sending Dike back to the sidelines for another lengthy rehabilitation period.

While many players had to seriously consider ending their professional careers prematurely, Dike used his past experiences and the support of the club to get back on track.

“The time I spent playing and scoring goals was great,” said Dike. “These experiences help me get back to my best and repeat those moments. You want to do everything you can. Maybe you try a new workout or new techniques to get your body in shape, but I did everything I could to get back to 100%.”

“Everyone here has been very supportive,” said Dike of the club's support in his rehab. “They've given me the tools to help me get in the best position. That motivates me to get back to my best. Injuries are a big psychological burden, so when you know that the people you work with are supporting you, you want to give something back and reward them for all the effort they've put in.”

Dike has mainly worked under two managers during his time at West Brom, former Manchester United legend Steve Bruce and current head coach Carlos Corberan. Bruce was hired directly after the Baggies signed Dike in 2022, but the long-serving manager was eventually sacked in October of the same year.

Corberan was appointed shortly after and has held the position ever since, winning 42 of his 89 games as manager. The Baggies have been battling for promotion chances in Dike's last two seasons and working under both managers has certainly helped him to give his best for the storied club.

“I think as a player it's great to always play under different coaches,” said Dike. “Whether it was tactics or personalities, Steve and Carlos were good people to work for. It helps you grow as a player and I definitely enjoyed it. Learning their tactics was pretty easy and it certainly helped me in my career.”

“West Brom are obviously a big club,” he added. “I remember them playing in the Premier League for several seasons when I was a kid and we're just trying to build on those times. We've got some of the best fans in England and Europe, over 20,000 are here at every game and even at the away games you can see and hear the support, even in the rivalries against Wolves, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. It's a great club and hopefully we can get back into the Premier League this season for the fans.”

Injuries have not only hampered Dike's club career, but also his chances with the U.S. Men's National Team. After helping the USMNT win the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Dike has made just two appearances since then, allowing others to overtake him on the forward depth chart.

Gregg Berhalter rewarded Dike with several opportunities on the roster, but the program has since parted ways with Berhalter following the USMNT's disappointing performance at the Copa America. Longtime European manager Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly set to become the new head coach, bringing a wealth of experience to a growing squad of talented players.

Dike may have to wait for his chance to impress Pochettino, but is already excited about the chance to potentially do so with other players in the Championship.

“I think my relationship with Gregg was great. He gave me my first international cap, so I will always have a soft spot for him,” said Dike. “He always wanted the best for me as a player and I wish him the best for the rest of his career. If the reports about Pochettino are true, he is a great man to have as a coach for the World Cup. He has a lot of experience as a coach of some big clubs and you really can't ask for much more than that.

“You can see that this league is definitely getting a lot of familiar faces and I think that’s great for the program,” added Dike. “You see people like Haji [Wright]Josh [Sargent]Burning [Aaronson] all have scored goals this season, Aidan [Morris] They play a big role for Middlesbrough and others too. Our programme only gets better when our players play in leagues and moments like this.”

A healthy Dike could give West Brom a huge boost in their fight for promotion this year, especially given their busy EFL Championship schedule. He has averaged a goal in every four games for the club so far, bringing physicality to the attack.

Dike still has time to make his mark on the 2024-25 season with the Baggies and he knows that once he is healthy again, he will do everything he can to steer the club in the right direction.

“When you're at a club like West Brom, I don't think you aspire to anything less,” said Dike when asked about his promotion targets for this season. “We've got a good team, we've got a good coaching team and they're all pushing us. I think we'd be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn't aim for promotion. We know how gruelling this league can be, especially when you're stuck here for a while, so we just have to work together and I think we'll get there.”