West Bromwich Albion striker Charlie Austin has praised the impact that fellow forward Hal Robson-Kanu has made in recent weeks, and admitted that he has deserved to take his place in the starting XI.

Slaven Bilic’s side have had to find goals from all over the team during the opening few months of the season, with summer signings Austin and Kenneth Zohore struggling to make an impact at the Hawthorns and Robson-Kanu being forced to wait for his chance to impress up front.

That has changed over the last few weeks, with Robson-Kanu coming off the bench to score vital goals against Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and Stoke City, which has seen him take the place of Austin in the starting line-up in the last four matches, in which he has added two more goals to his tally in wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City.

Austin, though, has himself responded to being left out of the side by Bilic, coming off the bench and scoring in each of the Baggies’ last three matches, including the winner at Preston North End on Monday.

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Speaking to the Express and Star, Austin suggested that Robson-Kanu has offered a real outlet for the Baggies in recent weeks, and that he deserves his place in the side.

"Hal has been fantastic – not just in the games he’s started but also when he’s come off the bench he has been top drawer. He is a great outlet, holding the ball up and scoring goals. As a striker you always want to score goals and Hal is certainly doing that now, helping the team go forward up the pitch.

"He is a top player and deserves all the success he is having so far. But it’s not just that. You should see how hard he works."

The verdict

Austin is right to suggest that Robson-Kanu has certainly earned the right to establish himself in the Baggies team over the last few weeks, with the Welshman offering a lot to the side when he plays.

The Baggies were in need of their strikers finding some form in front of goal, and Robson-Kanu’s form appears to have brought a positive response from Austin, who has responded well to being left out of the side coming onto score three in three from the bench.

That means that Bilic now faces the difficult decision of whether to stick with Robson-Kanu up front or instead decide to bring Austin back into the team, for now though it might be best to just retain the same method which is helping them pick up consistent wins.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.