Clarke knows Baggies’ fans don’t want to forgive Peter Odemwingie, but he says the striker is still in his plans.
West Brom manager Steve Clarke does not want the fans’ feelings toward Peter Odemwingie to affect the team.
Supporters at the Hawthorns have not forgiven Odemwingie for trying to force through a move to QPR on January transfer deadline day.
But the Nigerian remains in Clarke’s plans and could feature in this weekend’s game against Sunderland. The manager wants the fans to support the team as a whole though, even if it includes Odemwingie.
“All I ask is that they support the team,” Clarke told the BBC.
“If Peter scores a hat-trick and they choose not to celebrate Peter’s goals, they should celebrate the fact that the team have scored.”
Odemwingie made the headlines for all the wrong reasons on 31 January, when despite a transfer request from the player being rejected and QPR not putting a bid in for him, the striker turned up at Loftus Road to complete his move.
The 31-year-old then conducted an embarrassing live interview with Sky Sports News, in which he told the reporter why he wanted to join QPR. However, Rangers’ manager Harry Redknapp said no deal had been done and Odemwingie had to return to West Brom with his tail between his legs.
Despite this very public faux pas from the forward, Steve Clarke has admitted that he is still ready to play the Nigerian this weekend.
“Will he be considered for Saturday? Absolutely,” Clarke said to the BBC.
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