Jay Rodriguez: Hegazi stole the West Brom show but I'll score soon!
Team player Jay Rodriguez doesn't mind fellow new boy Ahmed Hegazi stealing the limelight from him because he's confident he'll get on the score-sheet soon.
It looked for all the world like the £12million striker was going to mark his competitive Albion debut with a goal after testing Bournemouth keeper Asmir Begovic several times in the opening 15 minutes.
But it was loanee centre-back Hegazi who ended up as the match-winner when he crashed home a towering header on the half-hour mark.
"I don't mind!" said Rodriguez. "The main thing is three points for the team and working to where we want to be. I'm very pleased for him."
Despite failing to score, Rodriguez impressed up front for Tony Pulis's team, adding a much-needed goal threat from open play to the set-piece specialists.
And the former Southampton forward has promised to keep up his shoot-on-site policy.
"I want to score goals every time I play," he said. "As soon as I see the goal (I shoot). That's what I work on in training, to get my shot off.
"Obviously, if there's a person in a better position you've always got to look to set up. But that's the way I play. To score as many as I can and try to shoot.
"As long as the chances are there I believe in myself, they'll go in eventually."
Rodriguez started as a lone striker on Saturday, but the Burnley-born forward was moved to the right wing when Matt Phillips was substituted.
The 28-year-old also proved lethal coming in off the left hand side throughout his career.
"I don't mind playing anywhere the gaffer thinks it's best for me to play," he said. "I really enjoy playing football and working hard for the team."
Desperate to get his career back on track after a frustrating season at St Mary's, Rodriguez already feels at home in the Albion dressing room.
"The team spirit is a big thing for me," he said. "As soon as I came into the club the lads made me feel really welcome and I really appreciate that.
"You look at the quality we've got and to beat a team like Bournemouth, they're a good side.
It just shows how strong we are."
And Pulis reckons there's more to come from the summer signing.
"Jay's been absolutely fantastic for us in pre-season," said Pulis. "His attitude and approach and everything else. He's not match fit yet, but he will get there and he'll be a handful. He was a handful on Saturday. I was just disappointed he's not scored because he deserved to."
