West Bromwich Albion continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 victory over League One side Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Baggies' new forward, who has been in scintillating form throughout the summer, added another goal to his tally, netting his fifth of the pre-season campaign.
New signing shines again
The unnamed new boy, who joined the club earlier this summer, opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a clinical finish from inside the box. His strike set the tone for a dominant first-half display from Carlos Corberán's side, who controlled possession and created several chances.
According to BirminghamWorld, the forward has now scored in five consecutive pre-season matches, demonstrating his sharpness in front of goal. The 24-year-old, who arrived from a Championship rival, has quickly adapted to the Baggies' style of play, linking up well with fellow attackers.
Injury comeback duo complete 45 minutes
In a significant boost for the squad, two players returning from long-term injuries each completed 45 minutes of action. Midfielder Daryl Dike, who has been sidelined since February with a hamstring injury, made his second appearance of the pre-season and looked sharp in the middle of the park.
Defender Semi Ajayi, who suffered a knee ligament injury in March, also featured for the entire first half, marshalling the backline with his usual composure. Both players were withdrawn at half-time as a precaution, with Corberán keen to manage their workload carefully.
Second-half resilience
Burton pulled one back early in the second half, but West Brom responded well. A well-worked team goal from substitute Tom Fellows restored the two-goal cushion, and Karlan Grant sealed the win with a late penalty after being fouled in the box.
Speaking after the match, Corberán praised the team's overall performance but highlighted the importance of the returning players. "It's great to see Daryl and Semi back on the pitch. They've worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and their quality is evident. We'll continue to build their minutes gradually," he said.
Pre-season progress
The Baggies have now won four of their five pre-season fixtures, scoring 14 goals in the process. Their only defeat came against La Liga side Valencia, a match that served as a valuable test against top-level opposition.
With the Championship season opener just two weeks away, Corberán will be pleased with the squad's fitness levels and the competition for places. The new forward's form has added an extra dimension to the attack, while the return of Dike and Ajayi provides more options at both ends of the pitch.
Fans will hope the positive momentum continues as the club looks to improve on last season's ninth-place finish. The next friendly sees West Brom travel to League Two side Cheltenham Town on Tuesday, before the final pre-season outing at home to Real Betis next Saturday.
Looking ahead
Corberán emphasised the importance of pre-season results but stressed that the main focus is on readiness for the league campaign. "We are building towards the first game. The results are nice, but the key is the performance and how we execute our game plan. We have a clear idea of how we want to play, and the players are responding well," he added.
The Baggies will open their Championship campaign at home to newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, August 5th. With the squad nearing full fitness and the new signings settling in, optimism is growing around The Hawthorns.
