Injury worries for Hodgson

23 November 2011 10:46

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson is sweating on the fitness of key quartet Shane Long, Peter Odemwingie, Paul Scharner and Graham Dorrans ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.

Striker Long, who returned from a month out with a knee problem to score the winner in the 2-1 victory over Bolton four days ago, suffered a leg injury in training on Tuesday

On the injury, Hodgson told West Brom's official website, www.wba.co.uk: "Shane took a knock [on Tuesday] morning so we're waiting to hear. When you've been out for a month, played 90 minutes and then you train, then quite often something else happens."

He added: "We need him to play two or three games on the bounce or we will get this situation."

Dorrans turned his ankle towards the end of Saturday's game and has yet to train this week, while fellow midfielder Scharner missed the last two games with a grade one tear to the medial ligament in his left knee.

Odemwingie is continuing his recovery from the training-ground knee injury he suffered in the build-up to the Arsenal trip more than three weeks ago.

Hodgson added: "Scharner is making good progress.

"He hasn't trained with the first-team yet but he tells me he will train tomorrow, the doctors tell me he will train [on Thursday], and knowing Scharner and the type of player he is, I think that's how it will be.

"Peter is difficult to work out but there is some optimism from the medical staff he might train [on Thursday] so we'll see what happens.

Source: PA