Woy tries to make peace with Odemwingie

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson insists he has never believed Peter Odemwingie guilty of exaggerating the extent of his recent knee injury.

Picture: Odemwingie tweets proof of injury

Hodgson puts boot into sicknote striker  

The former Liverpool manager appeared to vent his frustration with his striker's injury-hit campaign earlier this week, saying Albion had so far got "nothing" from him and claiming Odemwingie was "difficult to work out".

That prompted the player to take to his Twitter account to post a picture of the injury and to reassure Baggies fans that he cares for the club.

Odemwingie's Twitter account also sees him pictured holding one of the newspaper articles in which Hodgson made his comments, but the Albion manager today insisted he had never questioned Odemwingie's desire to play for West Brom.

"If I thought he was malingering I would say so," Hodgson said.

"Interpretations are interpretations.

"It's been frustrating for us, having one of your best players out for a long period of time.

"We've been encouraged to think he'll be back a little bit earlier and of course that is also frustrating when it doesn't come off.

"This week was fine, he's got back, he's training, and he'll be available for the game on Saturday, which is great news."

The former Liverpool boss added that the affair has not damaged his relationship with Odemwingie - although he conceded that he could not speak for the player on the matter.

"I wasn't even aware of it [Odemwingie's response on Twitter] - that's how much it has affected my idea of our relationship," said Hodgson.

"But I haven't put anything on social networking sites so you'll have to ask him if it's damaged his perception of our relationship.

"I think he's very good player and I'm pleased to have him back."

Despite Hodgson's disinterest in social media sites, the 64-year-old insists he will not be following the lead of other managers by cracking down on players' communications.

He said: "I don't read them, I don't follow them, and I suppose I'll adopt the tolerant view that whatever players want to put on their own sites, they can put on them - it doesn't affect me one bit."

Odemwingie is not the only injury boost for West Brom ahead of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham at the Hawthorns.

Fellow striker Shane Long should be available after a leg injury picked up in training this week, while midfielder Paul Scharner has recovered from a knee problem.