USMNT's Daryl Dike scores first goal in 483 days after return from Achilles tear
USMNT striker Daryl Dike has finally ended his run of 483 days without a goal.
Dike, who has missed much of the last two years with a string of serious injuries, ended his barren spell by scoring for his English Championship club West Bromwich Albion in their 5-3 win over Luton Town on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, making his first start for Albion since April 2023, headed in their second goal from close range. It was his first league goal since March 15, 2023 — 781 days ago — and first goal in all competitions since scoring in the FA Cup third round victory over Aldershot Town on January 7, 2024.
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Dike ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a game against Stoke City a few weeks after scoring that goal, an injury that ruled him out until January 2024. He then tore his left Achilles tendon five games after returning.
That ruled him out for just over a year before he returned on February 15. Since then he had been limited to short substitute's appearances until he started against Luton on Saturday.
Could not be happier for this man. 🥰@DarylDike | @USMNT pic.twitter.com/F2iykPSCQt
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) May 3, 2025
The Oklahoma-born forward has 10 caps for the USMNT, scoring three goals, having made his debut in February 2021. His last appearance came in March 2023, a 1-0 win over El Salvador in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Dike joined West Brom from Major League Soccer side Orlando in January 2022 but has managed just 43 appearances in that time, having also suffered hamstring and thigh muscle injuries early in his career at the club.
His fitness record and capacity for training was criticised by former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray in what proved to be his final press conference in charge on April 22.
'The issue I have with Dike is he doesn't train every day,' Mowbray told reporters, just before he left the club. 'He has two or three days where he doesn't do any training.
'If I'm wanting to play a game with intensity and pressing and denying the opposition the ball, Daryl's not — in my opinion — at the level fitness-wise to help the team.
'I know what he can do. Daryl's a powerful monster of a man, physically huge. I do talk to the sports science and medical department about him, they feel as if he's still carrying something from not playing much football for a few years.'
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