Salomon Rondon back to 'bubbly' self in training
Struggling striker Salomon Rondon is starting to look more like his normal 'bubbly' self in training according to assistant head coach Ben Garner.
It's been four months since the Venezuelan last netted for the Baggies, and that dry spell has been weighing heavily on Albion's number nine.
After the Southampton game, Tony Pulis revealed that Rondon's personal problems 'back home' were 'getting better'.
And Garner, who took Rondon to one side this week for a pep talk, reckons the £12million striker is showing shoots of recovery.
"I spoke to Salomon before open training because he's had the weight of the world on his shoulders," said Albion's assistant. "I said just enjoy playing, work hard and enjoy it.
"Sometimes you get so bogged down in your own bubble of football, your perspective of what goes on in the real world is disorientated.
"He was much better, looked like himself, was bubbly.
"If you work hard and enjoy it sooner or later you'll be up and running again.
"He does a wonderful job for the team. He's worked very hard all season, as does Hal Robson-Kanu when he plays. It's a big job playing as that front man in the team.
"They both do it very well and they do a lot of work that goes unnoticed.
"From our perspective as a coaching staff, you go through these patches as a forward and I'm sure he will come through it."
Rondon's problems in front of goal are now being mirrored by the rest of the team.
Albion haven't scored in their last three games, and have now failed to find the net in five of their last six, but Garner says the squad hasn't let that poor run of form affect them.
"The lads haven't dropped in confidence," he said. "We've been really good for that this season.
"It's a good group. There's lots of experience in there, so they're very level headed.
"They haven't got carried away during the good spells but they don't get too despondent during poor spells.
"Obviously they're disappointed to lose games but they don't let that detract from their training or knock their confidence. We'll be approaching the (Liverpool) game exactly how we have done all season. "They're in a good place, and in good spirits, trained very well the last few days. So in that respects I don't see any issues at all."
