Daryl Dike says his goal in Albion’s Emirates FA Cup victory over Aldershot on Sunday afternoon was the perfect way to mark a long-awaited return from injury.
The striker netted the Baggies’ third goal as they beat the National League side 4-1 and cruised into round four.
And, during a post-match chat with WBA TV, Dike couldn’t hide his delight.
“I feel great,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment.
“I’ve been re-living that feeling (of scoring) every day and thinking about it, so when it finally happens you’re overwhelmed.
“It’s a good way to return. Obviously, being a striker you always want to score. But to get the win and score as well, you couldn’t really ask for more.
“It’s been a lot. When you have a big injury like that, you have moments where doubts come into your head or things are difficult.
“But when you have good teammates, when you have a good mindset, and a family around you pushing you and supporting you, it lifts you back up.
“When you get moments like that, it makes it all worthwhile.
“Everyone is really excited. They’ve seen how hard I have worked for it. They’re supporting me and it’s been great all-round.
“Over the last few weeks, Carlos Corberán has been saying to take it easy, because he knows I am someone who can be all-or-nothing when it comes to training or a match.
“But he also said to enjoy myself and be happy that I’m coming back. It’s something he knows I have worked really hard for, so he’s happy for me as well.
“This was just the beginning for me, so I just want to finish the whole season healthy and hopefully shoot us back up to the Premier League.
“If I can contribute then that’s the goal.”
