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In-form Nigerian striker Osaze Odemwingie has revealed the
secret behind his impressive performance for West Bromwich Albion. And believe
it or not, it is a sports psychologist.

The Uzbekistan-born Nigerian international has been one of the
revelations of the English Premier League season following his arrival at the
start of the campaign from Russia’s Lokomotiv Moscow, and for a modest fee of
£2.5m.

He has, however, repaid West Brom every penny of their initial
investment with a series of impressive displays as well as an equally
impressive return of 14 goals – a club record for goals scored in a season.

Odemwingie’s 14th goal of the campaign arrived in last weekend’s
win over Aston Villa, and it was his fourth strike in four consecutive games
for the Baggies.

However, in the events leading up to his goal at the Hawthorns,
Odemwingie was accused of diving by Aston Villa players who claimed the
Nigerian dived to win the free-kick from which he brought West Brom back into
the game.

From the resultant free-kick, Odemwingie had little time to
think before burying a ball flying around the Aston Villa penalty area to
cancel out the visitors’ lead.

The goal also gave the Baggies the belief to go on and beat
their opponents for the first time in 18 attempts since 1985.

Sports shrink

And Odemwingie insists he is no cheat, adding that sessions with
a sports psychologist has helped to bring out the best of his ability.

The sessions began when Odemwingie, struggling to maintain his
early scoring form for the Baggies, consulted a sports shrink at the behest of
erstwhile West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo after the Italian had noticed
that, in the words of the Nigerian, he was “a bit down”.

“The psychologist showed me an image of a running cheetah,” said
Odemwingie. “He said that when I run, he sees that in me; that I change
direction and I’m quick.

“The thing is that cheetahs have the belief in their speed and
quality to catch their prey. That means when they lose one they’re not scared
because they’re going to get the next one. He said ‘put that in your mind and
don’t be too worried about a lost chance’.

“He was trying to make me forget about missed chances and bring
out the instinct.

He said I was a player who does better using instinct, playing
naturally, than by thinking. That week I had a chance to seal the game and I
missed, but in the next match I scored a last-minute winner against Blackpool.”
It is a strategy that has continued to work for the former player of French
side Rennes who now needs just one more goal to surpass his all-time season
best of 14 goals which he scored in the 2004/05 campaign during his time in the
French Ligue 1.

Last weekend’s win also ensured West Brom’s Premier League
status and Odemwingie had this to say.

“I knew how important this game was for our supporters,” he continued. “Most
importantly we got the three points which made the situation more clear to us
that the future is bright.”