West Brom’s Dawson relishing Premier League landmark

It has been a long road to the top for West Brom’s Craig Dawson but as he closes in on 100 Premier League appearances for the Baggies, the defender admits he will be humbled to reach the landmark.

After signing from League One’s Rochdale in 2010, Dawson struggled to make the grade at the Hawthorns, initially being loaned back to the Dale and then on to Bolton.

But a breakthrough 2014/15 campaign saw him make 30 appearances in a West Brom shirt, and he went 11 better last term as he became a mainstay in their Premier League XI.

And with Burnley in town on Monday, against whom he scored the first of his six Baggies goals to date, Dawson is relishing his landmark appearance and is grateful for the help he has received along the way.

“I would settle for [a goal] again on Monday!” he said. “But I don’t think my scoring record is anything to shout about.

“Six goals? I don’t think that’s particularly good and it’s one of the areas I want to improve on.

“If I am selected, then it will be a nice moment and when I think about the quality of defenders who have been at the club while I have been making my way and trying to get established, it’s naturally very pleasing.

“You look at ‘G-Mac’ [Gareth McAuley], Jonny Evans, Jonas Olsson, Joleon Lescott, James Chester – that’s quite a group of players to fight your way through to even get a look-in in the team.

“They have all been a help to me and played a part in helping me progress.

“It’s a long, long way from my days at Rochdale but I never stopped dreaming I could play at this level.

“I like to think that this is a reward for hard work and dedication. You only get to achieve your dreams with that sort of commitment.”