West Brom completed something of a coup signing Daniel Sturridge but can the Liverpool striker deliver the consistency they need to stay up?
Mario Lemina of Southampton celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion.
Following their 3-2 home defeat to fellow relegation rivals Southampton at the weekend, West Bromwich Albion have been cut adrift at the bottom of the table.
The Baggies are now four points from 19th placed Huddersfield Town and also safety and have won two fewer matches than any other team in the division so far this season.
Ahmed Hegazi of West Bromwich Albion celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Premier League match against Southampton.
West Brom had a reasonably quiet January transfer window bringing in two new players on loan and while Ali Gabr gives them another option in central defence, undoubtedly the more eye-catching deal was signing Daniel Sturridge on a temporary deal from Liverpool.
Sturridge is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League with 75 strikes to his name to date and has also won seven major trophies during his time with Chelsea and Manchester City in the past, as well as 26 caps for England.
The striker started his first match for the West Midlands outfit in the loss to the Saints and although has failed to score in his two appearances since the move, much is expected from the 28-year-old. Yet can he deliver the consistency manager Alan Pardew needs ahead of a battle to stay up?
Daniel Sturridge of West Bromwich Albion runs with the ball towards Cedric Soares of Southampton during the Premier League match at The Hawthorns.
Injuries have blighted Sturridge’s career and as result, since becoming a regular first team feature after being promoted from the City academy in 2008/09, the Englishman has averaged just 19.6 league games a season.
Based on those statistics the forward could play less than ten times for Pardew this term and while that won’t necessarily be the case, pinning all their hopes on the Reds star could be a risky move for the club.
Alan Pardew, manager of West Bromwich Albion, during the Premier League match against Southampton.
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