Tony Pulis admits Salomon Rondon is disappointed with being benched
Tony Pulis admits Salomon Rondon is disappointed he didn't start but predicts the competition will help him in the long run.
The Baggies boss appears to have relegated the Venezeualan target-man from first-choice striker down to third-choice over the summer.
He picked Jay Rodriguez up front to start against Bournemouth today and then brought on Hal Robson-Kanu before Rondon.
The former Zenit St Petersburg striker stalked onto the pitch slowly and went straight down the tunnel at full-time while other members of the team applauded the fans.
Some supporters claim the Venezuelan threw his shirt into the dug-out before storming off.
"He was most probably disappointed he never started," said Pulis. "I didn't see him throw his shirt. We've got competition there now which is good. I hope it helps him in the long run, it usually does."
Rondon has only scored one goal for the Baggies in 2017, compared to Hal Robson-Kanu's three.
Jay Rodriguez looked threatening on his competitive debut and will probably keep his place in the line-up ahead of next week's trip to Burnley.
But Pulis is keen to add new players to the squad before that match at Turf Moor.
"I know where I am, I've been managing clubs at the bottom end of it financially for years," he said. "I know how it happens, you just wait.
"We've got targets, we'll get them in the next two weeks, and we need to. The team needs to be given a lift, everyone does, the team, the supporters.
"They were fantastic, the supporters today, I thought they were brilliant.
"It's always nice to start and it's always nice to start with a win."
There is also uncertainty clouding Nacer Chadli's future at the club after the Belgian was left out of the starting line-up for today's game.
Chadli refused to go to Austria for Pulis's pre-season training camp and today, the Welshman started 19-year-old Sam Field ahead of the Belgian.
He than brought on 17-year-old Rekeem Harper for his first-team debut while Chadli remained an unused substitute.
But when Pulis was asked what that decision meant for Chadli's future, Pulis said: "Rekeem has done fantastic in pre-season."
