West Brom striker Daryl Dike is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious thigh injury, reliable journalist Joe Chapman has claimed.

The Lowdown: Dike out injured

The Baggies have made a relatively positive start to the season, going unbeaten in their first two Championship games and progressing past Sheffield United in the EFL Cup.

One negative has been an injury Dike, however, with the American continuing a fitness-plagued start to life at the Hawthorns, having struggled since joining the club back in January.

Chapman first reported the problem earlier this week, and the striker will definitely now miss the clash with Blackburn and beyond.

The Latest: Chapman provides fresh update

Taking to Twitter with a further update on Thursday evening, The Birmingham Mail's Chapman confirmed that Dike has torn his thigh muscle and could now miss the USA's 2022 World Cup campaign:

"Not good re Dike, I'm afraid. World Cup with the USMNT in serious doubt."

The Verdict: Enormous blow for all concerned

This is a massive blow for both West Brom and Dike himself, with the 22-year-old no doubt dreaming of the chance to represent his country at a World Cup.

From a Baggies perspective, they have lost a major source of firepower for several months - he scored 19 goals in 41 appearances for Orlando City SC in the MLS - and they could now have to delve into the transfer window to bring in an extra attacker.

The hope is that Dike's injury ends up being less serious than feared, but as things stand, his 2022/23 season looks to set to a disrupted one, for both club and country.