Daryl Dike's key ingredient to stay mentally strong during West Brom rehab

Dike, 24, marked the final day of the Championship campaign on Saturday with one of the Baggies' feelgood stories of a forgettable season as he scored on a long-awaited return to starters orders.

Indeed, Dike's selection by interim boss James Morrison was his first Championship start in 750 days, since April 2023 where he ruptured an Achilles for the first time in Stoke.

Upon that return he was a substitute at Ipswich's Portman Road the following February, where the same injury on the other side saw him karted off in tears.

Seldom has a player suffered such cruel misfortune with injuries and a total of at least a couple of years on the sidelines have led to questions about the United States international striker's future prospects.

Prior to his breakdown in Ipswich, Dike had returned with 45 minutes and a goal against non-league Aldershot in the FA Cup. After that he told the Express & Star the key to his resilience to return was down to those around him. Around 14 months later the message is similar.

"Naturally you have doubts about yourself, doubts about your body, whatever it may be," Dike said.

"Luckily when I have the people around me, people in the squad, family back home, friends back home, tons of staff around to lift you up.

"After training every single day, after working every single day, to be able to put on a decent performance today you show yourself that there is a way."

Incredibly Dike did not learn he was leading the Baggies' line against Luton at The Hawthorns until moments before everybody else did. That was unusual practice for Albion, with the team usual outlined at least the day before a game.

Caretaker boss Morrison left hints in his press conference 24 hours earlier, with a smile and a glint in his eye while admitting 'the simple answer is yes' when quizzed if Dike was in his thoughts.

"I actually didn't know until an hour-and-a-half or two hours before kick-off!" Dike laughed. "It was left a little bit late and he came out with the teamsheet, I looked and I was like 'I'm starting!'

"I don't usually get nervous before matches but this was one of the few matches where I was a little bit nervous, but it turned out well."

Dike, who cost £7million from Orlando City in January 2022, added: "I was trying to get myself back into the mindset of 'you've done this before, you've played before'.

"I was a little bit nervous, I don't really get nervous. I was just focusing on things I don't usually focus on, getting my touches right.

"In my brain I was just like 'score, score, score, score' - and luckily I did!"

Most of Dike's three-and-a-half years at The Hawthorns have been a sorry story of fitness despair. The American's full debut in January 2022 ended in hamstring disappointment. He returned in pre-season but a groin tear from the bench on the opening day ruled him out until after Steve Bruce's sacking.

Dike returned under Carlos Corberan and was fit between November and April, where he was in the goals alongside Brandon Thomas-Asante before the Achilles blow at Stoke.

He fought back the following January before the Portman Road setback. A hamstring injury in training last October further delayed Dike until he returned as a substitute under Tony Mowbray in February.

Amid his final words as Albion boss, Mowbray explained how due to a tailored fitness schedule he only sees Dike as a substitute impact option, when weighing in how his side plays. Dike was a substitute nine times in all under Mowbray and did not start.