'Looking forward to this moment' - Daryl Dike is back! USMNT striker to return for West Brom after nine-month injury layoff

The English Championship side announced on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that Dike will start their FA Cup tie on Saturday. It will be his first appearance since tearing his Achilles Tendon on April 15, 2023.

“We have all been looking forward to this moment, but Daryl is especially looking to it. He has been managing his injury for a long time and now appears to be the moment where he is ready to return to the competition. He has been training with the group when it has been possible to train with the group. Unfortunately, it has been a very demanding period where we’ve had lots of games and not very many team training sessions."

Dike was heavily involved in the USMNT picture prior to his injury, despite missing out on a roster spot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He has 10 caps and three goals for Gregg Berhalter's side, with his last two appearances coming in March of last year in the Concacaf Nation's League after a stretch of brilliant form in the Championship prior to the contests. Now, however, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi have moved up in the pecking order, and faces an uphill battle to climb if he wants to feature.

Dike will make his return to the pitch against Aldershot Town in the FA Cup on Saturday. It will be long-awaited, and he will certainly be buzzing to make his much-anticipated return.