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Tony Pulis backs Salomon Rondon to continue good form for West Brom

Tony Pulis has challenged in-form Albion striker Salomon Rondon to keep his foot on the pedal and stay on his current upward curve.

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The 27-year-old is enjoying a more fruitful start to this season than last, and has five goals in his last eight Premier League starts.

But Pulis, who only has three senior strikers at his disposal, doesn't want him getting complacent.

"His form now is fantastic and long may it continue," said the Baggies boss. "But he has to work hard.

"You can't relax in this league – it's non-stop pressure every step of the way.

"If he takes his foot off the pedal it will fall away. The important thing is to make sure he understands that."

The Venezuelan was handed the number nine shirt over the summer, and has cemented himself as the club's talismanic striker.

Seven of his 10 Albion goals in his first season at The Hawthorns came after Christmas and he already has three goals in this campaign.

But Pulis reckons the former Malaga man can score more regularly, especially after the club signed attacking midfielder Nacer Chadli in the summer.

"Salomon is a good player," said Pulis. "He has shown that over last season and the start of this season.

"Yes, he can get better, he has the ability to get better and hopefully he will."

Rondon has now settled in this country after spending three years in Russia with Rubin Kazan and then Zenit St Petersburg.

But Pulis is still worried about his long trips back to South America during the international break.

The striker is currently in Montevideo ahead of Venezuela's World Cup qualifier with Uruguay in the early hours of Friday morning.

His country then host Brazil in another qualifier next Wednesday before an unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur side visit The Hawthorns on the Saturday.

Because of that journey, Pulis left Rondon on the bench for the trip to Bournemouth after the first international break of the season.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Chay Tilt has been recalled from a six-month loan at National League side Torquay United because of a lack of game time.

The winger, who recently changed his name from Chay Scrivens for family reasons, made seven league appearances for the Gulls but all of them were from the bench.