West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic has highlighted the importance of both Charlie Austin and Hal Robson-Kanu continuing to show their recent form and share the goal scoring burden up front.

Austin came off the bench on Saturday with West Brom trailing 2-1 at rivals Birmingham City and in danger of losing their 11 match unbeaten run, but the striker managed to score twice in the final twenty minutes to help the Baggies produce a remarkable turnaround to secure a 3-2 win which lifted them back to the top of the table.

Those two goals took Austin's tally to six goals in his last five appearances, five of which have come from the bench, while fellow striker Robson-Kanu is also in form in front of goal having netted six goals in his last ten games - and that is providing Bilic with a real headache over who to start up front over the next few weeks.

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Speaking to the Express and Star, Bilic suggested it is vital that both Robson-Kanu and Austin continue to share the load in the attacking third to help the Baggies maintain their fine recent run of form, saying: "I am sure that he (Austin) would rather start, but at the moment it’s great to have that kind of player. That is what Hal was doing for us for a few games also.

"He came off the bench against Stoke, at Middlesbrough and a few games. Now Hal has got his chance and deserves his chance (to start).

"But it’s impossible to play with one striker, in every club you have to share. Is it Aguero is it Jesus, is it that one, that one or that one?

"You need a minimum of two and they are basically sharing the games between them. That is the best for us, it is all about the club, the success of the club. It’s not about individuals."

The Verdict

During the last few months the form of Robson-Kanu and Austin has seen the Baggies manage to find a greater ability to pick up three points on a consistent basis, with Bilic's side winning seven of their last eight matches in which the pair have contributed a combined total of ten goals.

The pair appear to be pushing each other to show their best form in front of goal, with both players aware that if they were to suffer a dip in form the other striker would take their place in the starting line-up - and given Austin has now scored three goals in his last two matches it will be interesting to see if Bilic brings him back into the starting XI.

Bilic is right to suggest that the Baggies will be needing both Austin and Robson-Kanu to continue their current form, if West Brom's impressive run of form is going to continue heading into the new year.