Tony Pulis backs Jay Rodriguez to reach double figures for West Brom
Tony Pulis is confident Jay Rodriguez will bag between 10 and 15 goals for Albion this season.
The £12million summer signing scored his first league goal for the Baggies against Stoke City this afternoon with a predatory finish from an Allan Nyom delivery.
And Pulis, who played Rodriguez on the left wing, praised the former Southampton man's instincts at the far post.
“Jay adds another goalscorer to the team," he said. "Jay does a hell of a lot of good work and he stretches teams because he wants to run in behind.
“But his greatest asset, whether you play him on the right or the left hand side, is he gets inside that back post and we think he’s going to score 10 or 15 goals.
“Then if you’ve got a striker who can add to that you’ve got two players in your team who can do that. We need more goalscorers in this team."
When Pulis was asked if he wanted to add another striker to his squad before the window shuts on Thursday, he said: "We’re in the market for lots of things hopefully. We haven’t done our business yet."
Rodriguez's goal looked like it had handed Albion their third 1-0 win of the season before a mix-up between Ahmed Hegazi and Ben Foster gifted Peter Crouch an equaliser.
But Pulis refused to blame his defender, who has been superb so far this season, or his goalkeeper, who was player of the year last season.
“These things happen," he said. "They brought Crouchy on and without him doing anything his presence unnerves defenders.
“He came on and without doing a lot really his presences unnerves people when the ball goes in the box.
“It was disappointing. For all their possession in front I didn’t think the created too many clear cut chances and we had opportunities.
“There was a chance when we were 1-0 up where we broke away and Jake (Livermore) could have played Salomon (Rondon) in and it was a misplaced pass.
“It was that little bit of quality there and I think he would have been through one on one so we’re really disappointed in that respect."
There was still no sign of in-demand skipper Jonny Evans, who has missed the first four games of the season with a hamstring problem amid interest from Manchester City.
“Jonny was close today," said Pulis. "He would have been ready in a couple of days’ time. But they injury is one where, if you take a chance and it goes, it could be six to eight weeks.
“But we’re hoping that he will be fine when he comes back from the international break."
When the head coach was asked if Evans would still be at the club after the international break, he said: “Read his programme notes."
