• Premier League

Hodgson cools Odemwingie fitness fears

ESPNsoccernet staff
October 11, 2011
Peter Odemwingie will see a specialist about his ankle problem © PA Photos
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West Bromwich Albion manager Roy Hodgson has played down suggestions Peter Odemwingie is set to undergo ankle surgery.

It has been claimed Odemwingie, 30, is due to go under the knife on Wednesday after aggravating an ankle problem while on international duty with Nigeria.

Hodgson has dismissed the reports, insisting that as far as he is aware Odemwingie will be available for Sunday's meeting with Wolves.

Odemwingie will, however, travel to Amsterdam to see a specialist about the problem, along with midfielder Zoltan Gera, who has yet to feature this season due to an ankle injury.

Hodgson told the club's official website: "There is no question of an operation for Peter. The doctor, Mark Gillett, has a very good relationship with him and whenever Peter has a poor game he looks to his ankle.

"That's what he's been doing ever since I've been at the club, and whenever things aren't going his way and he's not in top form he looks at his ankle. Peter was as fit as a butcher's dog when he left here to go to Nigeria.

"I can't say what happened in the Nigeria game but after our game against Sunderland, and in the games leading up to it, there was no suggestion whatsoever that he had any injury problems and as a result he went off to play for Nigeria 100%.

"I don't know if anything happened in the Nigeria game, but we don't have any information to that effect."

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