West Brom stood by me through tough start - Brown Ideye

The Baggies record signing has praised his team mates and manager for being with him during his dry spell and claimed he never considered leaving for Qatar in January

Nigeria striker Brown Ideye has praised the role played by his team mates and manager Tony Pulis during his early poor run of form at West Bromwich Albion.

The 10 million pounds club-record signing hit a dry spell which brought criticism as well as talk of him leaving for the Middle East during January’s transfer window.

However, four goals in three matches in February helped him regain confidence as well as support from the fans.

“I always believe in hard work. When you work hard it might take time but your time will come,” Ideye toldWorld Soccer.

“I knew things would turn out well if I remain patient and God did for me like he does in my life.


“Even when things weren’t going well with me, the players stood by me and the manager has been helpful since he got here. He has been like a father,” he said.

The 26-year-old claimed that rumours about him moving to Qatari side Al Gharafa on deadline day in January were all lies.   
          
“Al Gharafa tried to sign me before, when I was in Ukraine. They approached West Brom again around December [but] I told the director to forget it as I plan to stay and fight for my place because England is where I want to be,” he said while also describing his joy at moving to England.

“I always wanted to come to the Premier League from the moment I moved to Europe.

“It was a dream league while playing in Nigeria, watching the likes of [Nwankwo] Kanu and [Austin] Okocha playing in England.

“You keep saying someday it will happen. I went to the hotel and said to myself that I am now in the big league.”

Despite winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, Ideye was ignored for the Super Eagles squad that went to the World Cup in Brazil.

“I felt bad when I was omitted because playing at the World Cup is every player’s dream. But I’ve put all that behind me.

“I need to stay positive and look ahead,” said Ideye who was invited back to the Super Eagles in March but could not make it due to injury.

He would hope to make coach Stephen Keshi’s squad to play Chad in next month’s Afcon 2017 qualifiers.