Hodgson: Odemwingie will fire

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has backed striker Peter Odemwingie to deliver after struggling since his return from injury.

Odemwingie, 30, missed two matches last month due to a knee injury, before making substitute appearances against Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers.

He returned to the starting line-up for West Brom’s 2-1 loss at home to Wigan on Saturday, but struggled to make an impression, and was substituted after 75 minutes.

Nevertheless, Hodgson is confident the Nigeria international will soon recapture his best form.

“It’s understandable,” Hodgson told the Express & Star.

“He’s been out for quite a while.”

“It was good he could play for 75 minutes because I still think he is a dangerous player. We had a lot of the ball and he had a lot of the ball.”

“It didn’t fall for him on this occasion but it’s good for him that he was in there where it matters.”

Odemwingie scored 15 goals in 32 league appearances for West Brom last season, helping the promoted team retain their place in the top flight.

Despite only finding the net twice so far in 2011/12, Hodgson has faith in the former Lokomotiv Moscow man.

“We know he is a quality player and, over the rest of the season, if I can get him up there playing with Shane Long on a regular basis I’m pretty sure we’ll be dangerous,” he said.

“We’ll see how that partnership develops.”