Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi says top scorer and record signing Joao Pedro can improve his scoring rate – even though the Brazil forward leads the club’s goal charts with 15 so far this season in all competitions.
Pedro, 22, is also the top scorer in the Europa League with six goals from six matches, has a perfect seven-out-of-seven record from the penalty spot, and has also made his full international debut since joining Albion from Watford in the summer.
“I think he’s playing very well and I am really pleased for his performances,” the Italian said. “He is becoming a leader on the pitch and for it I’m worried about the future. Because if Joao plays like the first part of the season in the second part, I think the big, big teams can bring him [in].”
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But De Zerbi is not satisfied with his number nine’s goals return in free play. He describes him as ‘an attacker’ rather than a striker, despite the number nine on his back. Part of the reason is that he can play in different positions.
“He’s different from Evan Ferguson. Joao Pedro can play left winger, can play number ten, he’s complete in terms of characteristics. But he can improve in his number of goals.”
And the boss has told him so. “We have not fixed a number of goals but he has to be focused [on scoring],” he said. “For example at West Ham he made mistakes. He played well but we could win and in two situations he had chances to score.
“Two or three chances per game are many and for it he has to be focused, with the right mentality and attitude to score when we the chance. We are working on killer instinct.”
Pedro may get more chances with Tariq Lamptey now fit to add to the team’s attacking potential in wide areas, according to the head coach.
“He [Lamptey] is an important, important player for us,” he said. “He can play full-back, winger, especially in this moment without Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, and Solly March.
“So I am happy to have him available. He is a unique player. His attitude and behaviour is incredible. We achieved first place in the Europa League for Tariq’s credit. The penalty in Marseille was for his attitude and passion to find the penalty, to find the one-on-one.
“His characteristic is speed, his one-on-one, his energy that he can give on the pitch. When Tariq starts and is attacking, you have to follow him or you will be left 40 metres behind!”