Roy Hodgson is keeping his fingers crossed that Peter Odemwingie will be fit for West Brom's game against Man Utd.
Last season's top scorer struggling with ankle injury
Roy Hodgson is keeping his fingers crossed that Peter Odemwingie will be fit for West Brom's opening game of the season against Manchester United.
Odemwingie is carrying an ankle injury picked up earlier in pre-season and he was forced to sit out Sunday's friendly against Parma.
The Nigerian striker, who was West Brom's leading scorer last term, is now facing a race to recover in time for the visit of Premier League champions United on Sunday.
Jerome Thomas and Steven Reid are also injury concerns for the game, but Hodgson is optimistic he will have the trio at his disposal against the Red Devils.
Desperate to play
"Peter got a sore ankle in the Bristol City game," said Hodgson.
"We hoped he would recover in time for yesterday and now we hope it won't go on beyond next week.
"Sore ankles can take time - when you get a knee or ankle injury you can't put a timescale on it.
"We're optimistic but there was no chance of him playing yesterday.
"But against Manchester United, I'm sure he will be desperate to play and we will want him to play if he's fit.
"The same goes for Jerome Thomas and Steven Reid, but we're more optimistic over those two than Peter at this stage. Even so we will be hopeful about Peter."
