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ESPNsoccernet: null | |
Steve Clarke has urged the need for more patience with Markus Rosenberg, as the Swedish striker still struggles to settle into life in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion.
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The Albion head coach feels the free transfer from Werder Bremen in the summer needs more time to adapt to English football after the 30-year-old's disappointing full debut against Stoke City at the weekend.
Rosenberg has seven substitute appearances to add to his one start and has so far managed only 158 minutes on the pitch. Clarke believes it could even be next season before Albion see the true form of the striker who had a record of one goal every three games during his time in the Bundesliga.
"Markus will score goals. We have no doubt about that. Some players take a while to settle, but he can cope with the league. I was at Chelsea when Didier Drogba first came. In his first season he was good, but wasn't great," said Clarke.
"It took Thierry Henry a year or so to settle too. It can take a while, especially for strikers who have to find different ways to find their space in the game, but Markus can do that. He is intelligent enough.
"He has played all of the front three positions as he showed when he was at Werder Bremen. He can play right, left, centre and he can play behind the striker. The problem for Markus is that the boys who have played in those positions have done well so there have been very, very few chances for him.
"But that chance will come over the next six-to-eight weeks. It's nice that he's had a start for the club. It makes him feel a little bit better and more confident. His performances can only improve. He's a fantastic finisher. His goal record wherever he has been bears that out."