Nigeria Content Online

Osaze Odemwingie has never scored and the Baggies lost in the
Premiership this season, so he is more than just a goal scorer, he is also a
good luck charm.

After scoring his 11th goal of the season in West Bromwich
Albion’s 3-2 away win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday,
Odemwingie could now prove too big to be accommodated at the Hawthorns come the
end of the season.

Roy Hodgson, West Bromwich Albion manager has voiced his
concerns about keeping the in-form striker at the club before Odemwingie almost
single-handedly ruined Sunderland’s day with a virtuoso performance that
included a goal and two assists.

Hodgson said before Saturday’s match, “Perhaps, but I’ll worry
about that when the time comes. Whatever happens after the season finishes,
I’ll concern myself with at that time.” And Hodgson added that “Peter’s
(Odemwingie) been an excellent signing for the club.”

The Nigerian striker though carrying a thigh injury was the
galvanising force for the Baggies last weekend at home when they came back from
a goal down to beat Liverpool 2-1. Odemwingie won the two penalties from which
the two goals were scored. He also led his side back from a goal down to the
Black Cats to almost assure the Baggies of another season in the top flight.

A little more time

But Hodgson is not getting totally carried away with
Odemwingie’s performances and said the Nigerian will ultimately be judged by
West Brom’s final position on the league table at the end of the season.

“He’ll be pleased with his season so far. But I hope he’s going
to agree with me that the only way he can really be satisfied is if he does
well for his club and his club stays in the league.” The club are also trying
to manage the striker’s fitness as Odemwingie went straight from the Russian
league to the World Cup and then straight to the English Premier League.

Hodgson said, “We are aware of the fact that he hasn’t had much
of a break. Because he came from the Russian league (which runs from March to
November), and has also had the World Cup with Nigeria.

“We do try to tailor his programme between games to make certain
that we don’t burn him out.”

But after the victory over Sunderland, Hodgson said, “I’ve been
very impressed by Peter. His work-rate today was exceptional, as was Cox’s.

“Peter’s a real threat and 11 goals in 24 starts while playing
in a team that has been battling relegation is incredible. The goal he scored
today was an important one to get us back into the game.

But despite not having a break, Odemwingie has six matches to beat the
highest tally that any striker has bagged for the Baggies in the Premiership.
He is currently tied with Robert Earnshaw on 11 goals scored.