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  • "To score goals you actually need to be on the pitch... Hopefully Hoskins will get the nod today, not in order to replace CMS but to play alongside him. They have got to be given the opportunity sooner rather than later... That's it, I'm off up the M23. Fingers crossed."
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Only goals will oust Macca

9:00am Saturday 8th December 2012 in Sport By Andy Naylor

The Argus: Craig Mackail-Smith Craig Mackail-Smith

Albion's second choice strikers have been told they need goals to oust leading marksman Craig Mackail-Smith.

Boss Gus Poyet is expected to stick with Mackail-Smith at Charlton today after he missed a good chance to equalise for Albion’s ten men at Crystal Palace last week.

Will Hoskins and August signing Stephen Dobbie were picked in place of nine-goal Mackail-Smith and Ashley Barnes for the previous game against Bristol City at The Amex but they both drew a blank and were substituted.

Dobbie has scored twice in 12 appearances since his move from Swansea, Hoskins one goal in 13 outings interrupted by a series of injuries since signing from Bristol Rovers two summers ago.

Poyet said: “He (Hoskins) has come back stronger. That is why he has been back in the squad even earlier than we expected.

“I decided not to change anything else against Palace once the game was lost.

“It would have been very easy to play Dobbs and Hoskins in the last 20 minutes but my instincts told me not to do it.

“They need to start producing, because they play in very specific positions and the strikers need to score.

“Why am I, for example, not going to play Macca when he is our top scorer?

“To not be so clear about playing Macca someone needs to score or win the game.”

Mackail-Smith scored against Charlton on his last visit to The Valley with Peterborough two seasons ago.

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