Charlie Austin hoping for Grady Diangana West Brom stay
Charlie Austin is hopeful Grady Diangana will remain at Albion for the season – with the striker believing it’s in his best interests to stay at The Hawthorns.
Diangana has been a revelation for the Baggies ever since joining on a season-long loan deal from West Ham in August.
The winger has netted five times and registered six assists in 19 outings for Slaven Bilic’s side – with his latest goal coming in Albion’s 3-2 victory over Blues on Saturday before he limped off with a hamstring injury.
However, his form has led to speculation the Hammers could recall him in January.
Austin, though, believes it will be better for Diangana’s development if he stays in the Midlands for the rest of the campaign.
“It is important we keep him for the rest of the season,” the former QPR striker said. “We want to keep him beyond January, of course we do. “He is a big part of our team, but it was always going to happen.
“When you get a player like that and the recall clause is there, it just speaks volumes of the performances he has been putting in.
“For me, hopefully he stays. I want him to stay. I feel we’ve got a good core group, a good team ethic.”
Austin was Albion’s hero on Saturday with the striker netting twice in eight minutes to claim the derby spoils for his side. The 30-year-old’s first goal was a spectacular effort from 20 yards.
For his second, the former QPR man produced some outstanding movement to out-fox Maxime Colin. “My first goal was just instinct,” Austin added.
“People ask the question ‘why are you in the right place at the right time for the little tap-in or why do you make that half a yard on the edge of the box?’
“That’s what I’ve done throughout my whole career.”
