West Brom boss Sam Allardyce has moved to ease the pressure on Mbaye Diagne ahead of the striker’s loan move from Galatasaray.
The 29-year-old, who has scored 11 goals in Turkey this season, is poised to join for the rest of the campaign to become Allardyce’s first signing at The Hawthorns.
Diagne is expected to arrive at the club on Friday, although too late to feature in Saturday’s crucial visit of fellow strugglers Fulham.
But, with Albion second bottom of the Premier League, Allardyce refused to pin their survival hopes on the Senegal forward.
He said: “Hopefully, if everything is OK, he will be arriving today. Until he walks through he door I’ll always speak with some caution.
“It has been a long negotiation and finally we have found someone who can give us a bit more on the front line.
“The opportunity to play in the Premier League is always very attractive and taking the challenge on with his record at Galatasaray is a big ask for him.
“I congratulated him on taking the chance. Players can easily be put off because of where we are.
“There’s no guarantee he is going to switch it on straight away.
“I’ve managed to succeed in the past but it’s still a major factor that catching up in the Premier League instantly in January is one of the biggest tasks a player faces.
“We have one more loan available from abroad and this country. That will be our objective, to bring in two more players in this window.”
The Baggies have shipped 24 goals in eight games since Allardyce replaced Slaven Bilic last month.
After Tuesday’s 5-0 defeat to Manchester City he locked the squad in the dressing room and held an hour long post-match inquest.
They are seven points from safety and also travel to bottom side Sheffield United on Tuesday with Allardyce having already targeted a minimum of four points to stay in the survival race.
Grady Diangana could be available to face Fulham after a hamstring injury while Robert Snodgrass is expected to shake off a knee knock.
“They are games we need to get points from. It’s essential. If we get the result it’s catching up on Fulham, Brighton and Newcastle,” said Allardyce.
“We cannot afford to lose these two games but if I start telling players they must win they can go out of the tactics we need to use and the way we need to win.
“We need to stay focused, if you chase anything in life you lose. We have to be patient, resilient and creative in possession.
“We cannot under perform in any department in the team.”
