There
has been little cheering news on West Brom striker Osaze Odemwingie
this season. He has featured in four of the club’s Premier League
matches, scoring one goal, which was a penalty converted against
liverpoool. In the last match against QPR, he was removed by coach Steve
Clarke after 62 minutes on the pitch.
He has a great chance to reclaim his
status as the club’s biggest striker when they host Premier League title
holders Manchester City on Saturday (today).
The fitness of Romelu Lukaku could make or break West Brom chances when they host.
Even with the goals not coming from
Osaze, West Brom have been one of the surprises of the opening couple of
months of the Premier League season, having won four and drawn two in
the first seven rounds to sit sixth, equal on points with the two teams
directly above them, Everton and Tottenham.
Manager Clarke, in his maiden full-time
senior coaching job, has set up West Brom very solidly and only three
teams have conceded fewer goals so far than the Midlands club.
But at the other end of the pitch, West
Brom are only narrowly in the top half of the Premier League having hit
the back of the net just 11 times.
Lukaku, who is on loan from Chelsea, has
scored two of West Brom’s goals this season but could miss Saturday’s
home game against the reigning champions as he continues to battle an
ankle injury.
However, Clarke believes the powerful
19-year-old Belgian striker might be fit to play having been rested over
the international break.
“He’s had a pain in his ankle for a few weeks,” Clarke told the club’s website this week.
“He felt it again when he came off the bench against QPR and didn’t feel it was right to go (and play for Belgium).
“He went across and got it assessed by the Belgium doctor and got sent back.
“It’s not a big problem but it’s one we’re mindful we don’t want to become a big problem.”
Irish striker Shane Long, plus
midfielders James Morrison and Zoltan Gera, have also scored twice in
the league so far this season.
Manchester City, who are third in the
Premier League, just one point ahead of West Brom, should provide a
sterner test for the home side than they have faced this campaign.
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