West Brom's 'Sicko' Craig Dawson is staying out wide for now

But Albion's one-man wrecking ball at right-back is desperate to move inside and play in his preferred position of centre-half.

He impressed there earlier this season when Jonny Evans was injured and hopes to be the long-term successor for 37-year-old Gareth McAuley.

Unfortunately for him, there's a tactic currently employed by Tony Pulis that makes him far too valuable at right-back for the time being.

"We purposely set up where I will kick my goal-kicks on to him," explained goalkeeper Ben Foster. "And I know for a fact whoever is playing left-back or left wing has got to try and compete with him.

"He's all elbows, and heads and anything. I feel sorry for the guys that have got to jump with him because he doesn't care.

"It's almost like he doesn't know that there's going to be any pain or danger, he just runs full pelt and smashes them. It's horrible.

"He is an absolute sicko. I would hate to play left wing against Craig Dawson, he is a horrible player. Even defensively he is like a rock, he will literally try and bite the ball if he can, he's a sicko. And he's been fantastic all season long."

Dawson has won 119 headers this season, which is far more than any other Albion player.

McAuley is next on the list with 95, Salomon Rondon comes third with 88, but nobody else has won more than 50.

The former Rochdale man has practically been an ever-present under Pulis.

He didn't miss a single league game last season and has only sat out one this season after totting up five yellow cards ahead of the home match with Swansea in December.

Although he harbours a long-term desire to move inside, Pulis prefers him at full-back, where he can use his aerial presence in attack and defence.

"Dawson has impressed me all season, I pick him every week," said Albion's head coach.

"When he plays right-back as well he does fantastically well for the team.

"He also gives us that extra height that we need at

times.

"Obviously we are good at set-plays because we spend a lot of time working on them but we have to defend those situations and Craig helps us in that respect.

"He gives us another very good player attacking-wise and defensively alongside the two centre-halves."