Daryl Dike’s return to full fitness this summer was a major boost for West Bromwich Albion and the U.S. men’s national team, but now the American striker looks set to another spell on the sidelines.
Dike missed West Brom’s 1-1 league draw with Watford on Monday due to a thigh injury suffered in training, and it is now determined that the USMNT forward will miss at least two months, manager Steve Bruce confirmed Thursday.
“The scan results have confirmed our fears that he’s got a tear to his thigh muscle,” Bruce said in his pre-match press conference Thursday. “Last time it was his hamstring. We’re devastated for him and for the whole lot of us. I don’t want to put a timescale on it, because that’d be unfair.
“It’s substantial, it’ll be weeks, at least a couple of months,” he added. “He’s got to stay mentally strong the kid, because he’s had an awful time and the way he’s worked and the way he got himself into the condition he’s in, it’s really disappointing for him and everybody. He’s kicked a ball. It’s so innocuous that it’s scary. He’s tried to score a goal. It might even have been just a tap in, last minute of training session. It’s frustrating for everybody.”
The 22-year-old made a permanent move to West Brom in January, joining from Orlando City after two seasons in MLS. Dike made two appearances in consecutive matches against QPR and Peterborough United before a hamstring injury forced him to miss the final four months of the league season.
A former No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLS Draft, Dike excelled for Orlando City, scoring 19 goals in 41 appearances for the Eastern Conference club. He also spent six months with then-EFL Championship side Barnsley on loan, scoring nine goals in 22 appearances in 2021.
Dike’s injury-rattled 2022 year has forced him to miss 10 matches with the USMNT including six World Cup Qualifiers during the Concacaf octagonal round. He will now miss the USMNT’s pair of September friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Well damn! Bitten by the bug again. Does anyone remember if his brother Bright had these issues?
I haven’t seen anything on his older brother, but I can say that players below the age of a fully developed brain are prone to injuries. Human brain develops at 25. Feet stop growing about 23, height stops about 21. I’m no sport science major, or a doctor. Nor am I an expert, other than being myself, of course. If you look at the US players, below 25, who’ve played the most minutes in their career -international & club, you will find that they have serious injuries soon after that season. Dike is a prime example, but he’s no exception. CP, Captain Adams, Weah, have been injured after playing a lot minutes the previous season(s). To simplify, players who don’t have fully developed bodies get injured easier. Dike is 6’3” and 215 lbs. At 22, I’m not surprised at all by his recent injuries.
Hmmmm, IIRC same is true of Jozy A. It seemed like after he hit 23 his hamstring issues/lower leg issues seemed to lessen for like a 5 year stretch … THE. 28 or 29 he was back on the shelf for large stretches of games.
Maybe it’s a body type, weight and soft tissue thing. Whatever it is, it is unfortunate.
you seriously suggesting injuries slack off after 25? i had the exact opposite experience.
Bright had a series of Achilles injuries and a significant knee injury according to transfermkt. Injuries seemed to shorten his career but they were not similar injuries seems more of a bad coincidence than genetics.