Nigerian striker Brown Ideye has admitted he has struggled to adapt at West Bromwich Albion, but revealed he has made a goal promise to his son.
West Brom's £10 million (Dh57.4m) buy has failed to score in the Premier League and has netted just once since his record summer move from Dynamo Kiev.
Ideye has struggled for form and fitness, making just three league starts this season, but played all of West Brom’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
They go to QPR on Saturday following just their second win in 10 league games with Ideye likely to lead the line again and the 26-year-old insisted he was getting better, while conceding he had made a slow start to his Albion career.
“I would say I have been working very hard,” he said.
“The gaffer (Alan Irvine) said he wanted me to work hard and at times it has been difficult for me to adapt to the system 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.
“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 and take it one game at a time.”
The Nigeria international’s 4-year-old son, Brown Junior, watched the derby win at The Hawthorns and Ideye has vowed to score against QPR for him.
“He always wanted to see the dressing rooms so I had to take him in to see it,” he said.
“He is happy we won, but he was disappointed I didn’t score – so I have told him I will score next time.”
The pressure had been building on head coach Alan Irvine before Albion’s victory over Villa and Ideye was under no illusions of its importance.
“I knew how important the game was for us as players and also for the fans, so I am very happy we won because I couldn’t imagine not winning,” he said.
“We knew how important it was and we’re all happy to have the result and I am happy for the team and for myself.”
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