Carlos Corberan issues call to West Brom's forgotten summer recruit

Cole, 29, was a free transfer signing after departing League One Barnsley in the close-season but has played just 15 minutes of league football with Albion – on the opening day in August.

Opportunities have been limited with fellow striker and top scorer Josh Maja leading the line. Corberan admitted Cole was not recruited as a regular starter but that the experienced frontman must stay focused to deputise.

“When I signed him, or when we decided to sign him, we wanted to create a squad with different possibilities,” said Corberan. “It’s true we didn’t sign him with the expectation to be the first XI number nine. We signed him with the possibility to be a good option as a number nine.

“I like the possibility to bring him (in), and possibly not another younger player because he has enough maturity to understand that sometimes if the number nine is competing well, then he is probably not going to have the minutes he would like. With enough maturity it is about not giving up in this challenge he has and about working hard when the opportunity comes to you.

“Sometimes if psychologically you cannot handle the difficult situation well then you are not ready when the opportunity comes you are not ready to get it. That is one of the reasons we decided to bring him.”

Cole is the opposite profile to Callum Marshall, the West Ham teen striker who the Baggies brought in on loan in January and who struggled to make an impact under Corberan with reduced game time. Marshall returned to West Ham early and Corberan suggested the experienced Cole will understand his role as a squad player better.

Former Manchester City youngster Cole, who has played for several Football League clubs including Fleetwood, Bradford and Wigan as well as Motherwell in Scotland, penned a two-year deal at The Hawthorns. He, Maja and Daryl Dike, who is pushing for a return from a long-term injury absence, are the squad’s sole natural senior strikers.

Corberan added: “When you move from League One, not being a young player – he has a lot of experience – having a small experience in the Championship with not many minutes, having made more impact in League One, when you move to West Bromwich, to a club who made the play-offs...he understands his role in the team.

“What happens after – I never know. I am more open to see how they are growing. It is not an easy situation for him because he is not having minutes and every player wants to play. But when you have a lot of possibilities you manage the minutes in what you think is the best way for the team.”

Cole, son of former Manchester United and England frontman Andrew, has so far only been included from the off in Albion’s entirely-rotated side that fell to an EFL Cup exit at the first hurdle against League Two Fleetwood in the first week of the season.

Albion are training this week ahead of a Championship return in the early kick-off at second tier new-boys Oxford United on Saturday.