West Brom striker curse hits yet again - but it is not surprising

It is safe to say it has arguably been the worst week of the campaign and arguably one of the toughest under the stewardship of Bilkul Football and Shilen Patel.

The mauling at the hands AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup was followed by the news that talks with prospective new head coach Raphael Wicky had broken down, due to issues around his backroom staff.

Then just when you don't think it can get any worse, Josh Maja, Albion's talisman forward who has arguably been their best player all season, was ruled out until the spring with a leg injury that requires surgery.

This hasn't even happened in the space of a week, it has been just four days.

The Maja blow adds more pressure to the Albion hierarchy, including sporting director Andrew Nestor, as he looks to juggle the managerial situation with tackling the fresh striking issues.

Albion were already set to go into the market for another forward in the window, to provide back up to Maja. So far this season, the only other fit striker Devante Cole has been restricted to just a handful of appearances.

Daryl Dike is closing in on a return to action after 12 months out following his latest injury nightmare, and that will come as a welcome boost to Albion. 

So they do have options available to them, and the transfer window will hopefully lead to them bolstering their options following this Maja blow.

But this isn't a new situation for Albion. It seems to have been a reoccurring theme in recent seasons, so it is hardly surprising they find themselves here again.

Last season, with Maja ruled on two separate occasions, and Dike suffering yet again major injury just as he made his comeback from his previous spell on the sidelines, the mantle was mainly handed to Brandon Thomas-Asante, as it was during the previous campaign.

As Albion's only fit striker, Thomas-Asante had to be flogged week after week, and that took its toll when he had to spend time on the sidelines, forcing Albion to operate with a winger up front for a number of weeks.

This season, Maja has been in that situation. Aside from his goals, he has played such a key part in Albion's campaign, but with a lack of other options he too has had to be flogged in the way that Thomas-Asante was.

Cole is there as an option, but it has been clear to see, especially under Carlos Corberan, that he wasn't fully trusted to step in as an able deputy.

Some will say Albion should have targeted a more experienced Championship striker in the summer, to allow Maja to be rotated and avoid a re-occurrence of the striker curse.

But unfortunately that hasn't happened and they find themselves in this situation again. The transfer window is going to be key in terms of repairing this situation. Alongside that, Dike returning and hopefully staying fit will provide some comfort for Albion and any new incoming manager.

Moving forward though, this is a situation Albion need to avoid again in the future. Yes, injuries happen, it is part and parcel of football.

However, these reoccurring striker issues have come from a lack of available back up and cover. 

Recruitment and bringing in players to ably stock Albion with quality in the striking department is always going to be a difficult task, but the club have to find a way to prevent this reoccurring.

If they can't then it is inevitable they will just find themselves in the same predicament again in the future.