West Brom's focus on play-off push rather than increasing Daryl Dike minutes

United States international striker Dike has recovered from his latest injury nightmare to return as an option for Albion and clocked up cameos against Millwall, Leeds and QPR.

It is good progress for Dike, who turns 25 in June and enters the finally year of his contract at The Hawthorns next season. The striker hopes his Achilles hell and a subsequent big hamstring setback are things of the past.

Dike is vying for a place leading Albion's line with fellow strikers Adam Armstrong and Will Lankshear, with top scorer Josh Maja due to return from injury next month. Others attackers but not natural centre-forwards such as Karlan Grant, Grady Diangana and John Swift have also been used further forward by Mowbray.

The Baggies boss conceded Dike is keen for more minutes and it was said for several months the former Barnsley man was being reined such was his enthusiasm in training.

Mowbray is optimistic the burly striker will be able to start games before the end of the season but admitted his priority has to be selecting a starting line-up for the benefit of the side and not just with improving Dike's match sharpness.

"He's totally different, isn't he? He brings something different," Mowbray said of Dike ahead of the trip to Burnley.

"In some games, like Leeds, he was helping us see the game out, giving us something to play a bit longer into, rather than having to play through presses.

"He's very good at it. He's really strong, body-strong, defenders really feel a difference up against him. He doesn't have to push them, his sheer physical presence can move them out the way.

"He's a good asset for us. He's probably thinking 'when am I going to get a bit longer on the pitch?' While we are still in the mode of being in the top six, with something to play for in every game, we have to keep trying to pick a team not overly concerning ourselves with giving Daryl enough game time.

"We have to try to win the matches, if that makes sense. Of course in some games we might need him a lot earlier and he'll be on a lot earlier. I do think at this moment having cameo roles will build him up to where, hopefully before the end of the season, he's starting games and getting 60 minutes in. I'm not sure he'll get to 90 minutes in a period of 10 or 11 games.

"But there will be spells where he can start down the middle and we utilise the amazing attributes he's got."

While Dike still carries that eye-catching size and natural power, he has also shed some bodyweight while being forced on to the sidelines.

Mowbray reckons a haul of around 70 points should be enough to secure a place in the play-offs this season. Victory over QPR last weekend lifted the Baggies up to 55 points.

A gap to the chasing pack from ninth place and below was at least temporaraily made over the weekend.

Notwithstanding the midweek clash at Burnley, Saturday's home contest against Hull kickstarts a final run of nine league fixtures for the Baggies, though an international break after the Tigers clash will bring welcome respite for Mowbray's troops.