Even after his two-goal blast at Birmingham City sent West Bromwich Albion into the fifth round of the FA Cup, Pulis was bemoaning his lack of fitness
Browsing: Victor Anichebe
Anichebe netted both West Brom goals in a 2-1 win at St Andrew’s, twice using his strength in holding off Paul Robinson to fire home
Tony Pulis’s side finished the clash with just 32 per cent possession and survived a scare when Kevin Mirallas drilled a penalty wide of Ben Foster’s goal before the break
Neither side were able to create any chances for the majority of a scrappy second half, with both goalkeepers acting as mere onlookers
The Baggies have won just once in their last nine matches and currently sit in 16th spot, a point above the relegation zone, following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Stoke
Anichebe is suffering from a groin injury but the club’s record signing, Brown Ideye, who scored a late goal in their 3-1 loss to Manchester City on Friday, has been listed for the tie
He said: “For me, over the international break, I need to go away, come back and be as fit as possible. I don’t feel as sharp and fit as I was at the start of the season but that will come
The performance was Anichebe’s best of the season by some distance and served as a reminder that on his day he can be a handful for any defence
“There’s no doubt he (Anichebe) made a difference and I thought before the game that we might need him,” Irvine told reporters
The Baggies trailed 2-0 at the break after Brede Hangeland and Mile Jedinak, from the spot, seemed to have Palace cruising.
But substitute Anichebe pulled one back when he headed home his first of the season
West Brom should have had a first-half penalty when Emmanuel Adebayor handled a Craig Dawson header, but they continued to press after the break in a display that belied their lowly standing
Nigerian international, Victor Anichebe, played all 90 minutes in West Brom’s two-all draw against Sunderland on EPL opening day. Anichebe’s…
The striker signed for Albion on Friday night in a deal worth in excess of £10 million, becoming the first eight-figure player in the club’s history
Shrewsbury Town gave the Premier League side a scare when it cancelled out Anichebe’s opener, but West Brom’s strength in depth and quality ultimately proved the difference at New Meadow
Yobo, who has been a solid influence since his arrival in January and an almost ever present, was given a clean bill of health on Friday
Anichebe has been out of action since pulling up with a hamstring injury in the defeat at Hull City
The 25-year-old now feels ready to make himself available.
Anichebe has 11 caps for Nigeria but has not featured since 2011.
However reports have suggested that Keshi is keen to bring him back into the fold ahead of the finals in Brazil
With 10 fixtures left to go this season, the Baggies are currently 17th in the Premier League and separated from the relegation zone by goal difference alone
United rarely looked in trouble and substitute, Danny Welbeck, rounded off the win, which moved Moyes’ team up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League
The Nigerian international has however urged his teammates to improve on their 10-point haul from bottom-half clubs, starting with the Cottagers if they are to secure Premier League survival