• Premier League

Odemwingie facing fitness battle

ESPNsoccernet staff
January 12, 2011
Peter Odemwingie has been a huge success since joining West Brom © PA Photos
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West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is continuing to battle an ankle injury ahead of the crunch Premier League clash with Blackpool on Saturday.

The Baggies will attempt to end a six-match losing streak at The Hawthorns this weekend but they may have to do so without their leading scorer.

Odemwingie needed an injection ahead of West Brom's last league game against Fulham eight days ago and missed the 1-0 FA Cup defeat by Reading last weekend, and he has not trained this week.

''Peter twisted his ankle so he is not training and we will have to see how he develops this week," manager Roberto di Matteo said. "He played with an injection in the Fulham game, with credit to him.''

Odemwingie has made an immediate impact following his summer signing from Lokomotiv Moscow, netting six goals, but has struggled with injury over the past month as the Baggies have slipped to within one point of the bottom three.

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.

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

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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