Odemwingie worry for Baggies

Odemwingie: Ankle injury

West Bromwich Albion are hoping Peter Odemwingie will be able to shake off an ankle injury in time for Saturday's game against Blackpool.

Odemwingie has endured various injury troubles since joining the Baggies from Lokomotiv Moscow last summer and has already been sidelined by knee and calf complaints.

He is now carrying an ankle problem and required an injection in order to play in West Brom's 3-0 defeat at Fulham last week.

The Nigerian sat out the FA Cup defeat at Reading and is battling to be fit for the weekend's fixture at home to Blackpool as the Baggies seek to end a run of six straight defeats.

Credit

Manager Roberto Di Matteo told the club's official website: "Peter twisted his ankle so he is not training and we will have to see how he develops this week.

"He played with an injection in the Fulham game, with credit to him."

West Brom could also be without Ishmael Miller and Pablo Ibanez, who both have hamstring problems, while Jonas Olsson will serve a one-match ban.

The Baggies have received some good news, though, with Steven Reid now expected to be out for around a month rather than the six weeks originally predicted following his knee operation last week.

Di Matteo added: "Reid is in rehab now and recovering well. We're looking at about four weeks so it is not as bad as expected."

Meanwhile, Di Matteo is hoping to arrange a behind-closed-doors friendly next week to help Olsson get match-sharp ahead of West Brom's trip to Blackburn a week on Sunday.

The key defender marked his return from two-and-a-half months out with an Achilles injury by picking up two yellow cards within 15 minutes of his entrance as a half-time substitute against Reading.

Di Matteo said: "We're looking to organise a behind-closed-doors game early next week to get Jonas playing so he can hit the ground running."