TheCable

West Bromwich Albion striker, Brown Ideye, has confessed that his initial struggle at the Hawthorns was down to the fact that he was “overwhelmed” by becoming the club’s record signing.

The Super Eagles striker joined the Barclays Premier League side from Russia’s Dynamo Kiev in the summer for a reported fee of £10 million.

The 26-year-old forward did not score his first league goal until Boxing Day in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, leading to speculation that he would be sold in January’s transfer window.

But after scoring four goals in three games in all competitions in the space of seven days in February, Ideye eventually justified the overwhelming price tag. He can’t forget his trying period in a hurry, though.

“I took a lot of time to adapt,” he told the Daily Mail.

“I was overwhelmed that I am the record signing. I put a lot of pressure on myself. People are not patient.

“The game doesn’t turn out the way I want, I become frustrated, I keep on pushing when I am supposed to calm down. Things were going so fast.

“As for the social media, you can’t expect everyone to like you. They will say what they want. I don’t see what can shake me given what has happened before.

“It’s inspiration. They are pushing me to my success. I like people criticising me.

“That one week turned out to be something I dreamt. I felt this day would come. Getting back to the Brown Ideye people know.

“One day the people who are saying, ‘he’s no good’ are the same people who will say, ‘don’t let him go’.”

Ideye, instead, is going to Villa Park on Saturday and will look to inspire West Brom to a place in the FA Cup semi-finals against Aston Villa.