Exclusive: West Brom told how to fix Adam Armstrong concerns | OneFootball

Joe Jacobson has told FLW his verdict on Adam Armstrong's best role at West Brom amid their play-off push

Joe Jacobson believes West Brom need to build their attack around Adam Armstrong to get the best out of him.

The 28-year-old arrived at the Hawthorns at the end of the January transfer window, and has scored just twice from nine Championship appearances.

Armstrong has been utilised both through the middle and out wide under Tony Mowbray, with supporters leaning towards preferring him as a winger.

However, with Josh Maja now out for the rest of the campaign, it’s likely we’ll see him used as a striker as West Brom push for a top six finish in the table.

Joe Jacobson makes Armstrong position claim

Jacobson believes that Armstrong should be playing through the middle, as there’s no point having him do the defensive work as a winger when he’s at his best inside the opposition area.

The former Wycombe Wanderers defender turned EFL pundit has also suggested that the team needs to be built around servicing him in order to get the best out of him as a number nine.

“Armstrong has obviously scored a lot of goals wherever he’s been and he’s one of those strikers who relies on a lot of service,” Jacobson exclusively told Football League World.

“When he does play as a number nine he needs the team to play to him.

“I get that fans want him to play out wide a little bit, but you want him in and around the box as much as possible.

“You’ve always kind of got to let him to do what he wants, sometimes wide players have to do quite a big defensive job for the team, and you don’t necessarily want Adam Armstrong sitting in his midfield five in a block, 70 yards from goal.

“You want him in a position where he can go and attack, where he can go and use his pace and his finishing ability because he’s incredible finishing, one of the best finishers I’ve ever played against.

“If you want the best out of him, you’ve got to give him the reins of being in the penalty area, where it matters.

“He can play as a nine, he can play out wide, but as I’ve said, I like him down the middle, but you have to play a way to get the best out of him and for him to score lots of goals.

“For me, he’s a better number nine and would be more effective as a number nine, but the team have to play for him.”

West Brom are currently sixth in the Championship table, level on points with seventh place Middlesbrough with seven games remaining.

Armstrong needs to step up with Maja out

Maja has been the talisman up front for West Brom this season, so his absence through injury is a massive blow.

Armstrong has to step up in front of goal in the remaining seven games if the Baggies are to earn a top six finish.

A return of two goals from nine appearances is underwhelming, but he still has time to turn that around and prove a crucial part of their promotion push.

A partnership with Daryl Dike in the final weeks of the campaign could be what Mowbray relies on in order to get over the line and into the play-offs.