West Brom striker Brown Ideye has promised his son that he will open his Premier League account should he face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
The Nigeria international- a £10m club-record signing from Dynamo Kiev- made his third start in last weekend’s midland derby win in the absence of his compatriot Victor Anichebe, who is recuperating from an ongoing groin problem.
Ideye is now reunited with his family and hopes their company would help him settle into the English game. He even told his four-year-old son Brown Junior after the 1-0 win over Aston Villa “I will score next time.”
“I knew how important the game was for us as players and also for the fans, so I am very happy that we won because I couldn’t imagine not winning,” he said.
“I was happy that I was in the first XI. I was always hungry to start for West Brom and I always give my best.
“Sometimes it’s difficult but I have to keep on pushing and working hard for the team.
“I am getting closer to my best. I have had a lot of things to deal with so I just have to be focused.”
The Baggies boss Alan Irvine affirmed that the 26-year-old is in “much better shape” to get his first Premier League goal, judging by his impressive work-rate during training sessions.
Ideye’s only goal for the West-Midland club so far came in a Capital One Cup win over Hull City in September. He scored a brace in a closed-doors friendly win against Northampton Town prior to the game against Villa, and Irvine is convinced he will get his run of games.
Irvine said: “The signs were that he’s started scoring goals again in training on a regular basis.
“He went through a period where he couldn’t score for weeks in training.
“We play 11 v 11s but don’t necessarily play them on full size pitches, we play them on smaller pitches when chances should be more frequent and he couldn’t score. But now he is.
“He’s in a position where again it’s that little bit of sharpness and just him being quick enough to get into positions and be composed when he’s actually making that finish.
“Until you get that then you might be quick enough, but you’re not composed and it comes off you. He’s in a much better place. He just really wants a goal to come.”
Ideye added: “The gaffer said he wanted me to work hard and at times it has been difficult for me to adapt to the system that the team plays.
“I have to adjust to what I have to do when the team is playing, but right now I think I’m there and I am just working hard now.”
