West Brom sweating over Odemwingie for crunch clash with Blackpool

12 January 2011 10:50
West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is continuing to battle an ankle injury ahead of the crunch Barclays Premier League clash with Blackpool on Saturday.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB] Battling to be fit: Odemwingie clashes with Nemanja Vidic during West Brom's match against Manchester United on New Years Day[LNB]Boss Roberto Di Matteo told the club's website: 'Peter twisted his ankle so he is not training and we will have to see how he develops this week. He played with an injection in the Fulham game, with credit to him.'[LNB]Odemwingie made an immediate impact following his summer signing from Lokomotiv Moscow and has netted six goals, but he has struggled with injury over the past month as the Baggies have slipped to within one point of the bottom three.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Di Matteo added: 'Reid is in rehab now and recovering well. We're looking at about four weeks so it is not as bad as expected.'[LNB] West Bromwich want to make AEK Athens' Diop part of the furnitureWest Brom bank on bagging Aston Villa striker John Carew to stop the rotWEST BROMWICH ALBION FC

Source: Daily_Mail