Slaven Bilic hoping Oli Burke can finally flourish at West Brom
Slaven Bilic will offer Oliver Burke the chance to kickstart his Albion career after admitting the forward could have a big role to play this season.
Burke returns to his boyhood club Nottingham Forest this evening, having endured a frustrating two years since joining the Baggies in a £15million deal from RB Leipzig.
It was the second big-money transfer involving the Scotland international, who had previously moved from Forest to Leipzig for a £13million fee while still a teenager.
Still aged just 22, Burke for now has time on his side but, to this point, has failed to live up to the potential he once showed at the City Ground.
He has started just two league games for the Baggies and spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic.
New boss Bilic believes Burke needs stability if he is to finally find his feet at The Hawthorns.
“Hopefully he’s going to flourish because we need him,” he said.
“For a boy maybe so young, he experienced so much in terms of transfers.
“He needs stability, continuity and he has to show in every training and game that he’s focused.
“Of course, he’s got it on paper. He shows a few glimpses, and when he’s sharp he’s very difficult to stop.”
Burke is likely to be on the bench at City Ground, though there is every chance he could feature at some point as he is currently Albion’s second-choice centre-forward.
The departures of Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez, coupled with Hal Robson-Kanu’s suspension, means new signing Kenneth Zohore is the only recognised striker available to Bilic. Burke has played most of his career on the wing but the boss believes he can also be effective in a central role.
Bilic said: “There are a few coaches who like him here (up front). He can play both. We’re going to use him in both positions but his pace and physicality, it’s good to have him as close to the goal as possible.”
The boss will consider giving Romaine Sawyers, the club’s newest signing, a start at Forest.
The midfielder arrived too late to be involved in any of Albion’s pre-season friendlies but Bilic said: “He didn’t play with us but spent the week training with us, that is why we are thinking about it.
“On the other hand, he came back home. He knows this league. He is not someone who needs to get to know the name of the other players. He is ready.”
