Nigeria international, Brown Ideye could get an opportunity to play a huge role for West Bromwich Albion in Saturday’s derby against Aston Villa at the Hawthorns.
The £10m club-record signing from Dynamo Kiev has yet to start for Alan Irvine since September (against Everton) but is expected to spearhead West Brom’s attack alongside Saido Berahino in place of Victor Anichebe in the afternoon kick-off, should his compatriot fail to shake off a groin injury.
Ideye scored a brace in a closed-doors win against Northampton Town on Tuesday and manager Irvine has said the forward is “looking ready to play a part.”
The Baggies coach said: “Brown is working really hard. He had a period where he felt a bit low and wondered how he would get into the team but he has increased the way he worked.
“He came in and things were fine, he got thrown in too quickly and would have benefited from having a slower build-up.
“He then got injured and that set him back even further and it’s been a long way back for him but in the last couple of weeks he’s looked much sharper.”
Ideye has started twice in a league game since his arrival at the West-Midland club in the summer.
Possible West Brom XI vs Aston Villa: Foster; McAuley, Lescott, Wisdom, Pocognoli; Mulumbu, Gardner, Morrison, Dorrans; Berahino, Ideye.
