'Focus on his body and mind' message given to West Brom striker

The 25-year-old has made three cameo appearances since returning to availability following a thigh injury on the eve of the season.

Head coach Mason does not want Dike to be bogged down by the years of injury hell he has endured at The Hawthorns and reckons the striker can grow stronger every time he gets on the pitch.

Asked if the international break could be beneficial to Dike, Mason said: "I don't know. He's training with a group, he's in a good place mentally, he's actually appeared in a couple of games in the last couple of weeks.

"The past is the past, he's got to focus on his body and his mind now to try and help contribute to what we're doing.

"He's been great in terms of his application and attitude and like I said, the more time you spend on the grass, the fitter and stronger he's going to get."

United States frontman Dike, in the final year of his Albion contract, looked set for a rare clean bill of health during pre-season ahead of this season.

But he was sidelined with the muscle injury on the eve of the campaign and did not make a first appearance until October 22 and the defeat at Watford.

Dike has struggled with several significant injury lay-offs during his spell at the club, which is approaching four years. Two ruptured Achilles injuries resulting in more than 18 months of rehabilitation.

He has not been Albion's only fitness issue in that department this term. Last season's top scorer Josh Maja first started on October 1 after nine months on the sidelines. Maja has now made four starts but still looks short of match sharpness and his best.