West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic has hailed the impact of ‘super sub’ striker Hal Robson-Kanu ahead of their game against Stoke City on Monday evening.
As reported by the Express & Star, Bilic has praised the Welshman for his contribution from the bench so far this season. Robson-Kanu has so far inspired Albion to a point against Fulham and won the foul which led to the subsequent sending off of Barbet and the goal against QPR.
In addition he also scored the winning goal away at Middlesbrough as well as netting in the 2-2 draw against Charlton last weekend. All of his best performances have come as a substitute and Bilic is impressed with the striker’s ability to change games.
“Robson-Kanu keeps making a difference and that is why he keeps coming off the bench,” Bilic said. “When you come off the bench you have to make a difference and raise the level. That is what he is doing.”
“He was needed against Charlton. I told him when he came on, you have to play for two. You have to run for two, you have to keep the ball for two, you have to shoot for two. He did that. And the goal he scored deserved to be a winning goal.”
The Croatian boss is fully aware that his strikers are short on goals so far this campaign with only five of their 26 league goals having come from their forwards.
The Baggies have been reliant on goals coming from other positions/players like Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira and Matt Phillips.
Bilic will be hoping that Robson-Kanu can continue his fine form and perhaps even begin to make more of a telling contribution when starting games if the Baggies are to continue their fine form and push for promotion this season.
