West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson admits Peter Odemwingie has a battle to win back his starting place.

The Nigeria striker missed his second successive game with the knee problem he picked up in training.

It is the latest in a series of niggling injuries that have restricted last season's 15-goal top scorer to six Barclays Premier League starts this term, only enabling Hodgson to pair him with Shane Long five times in 12 top-flight encounters.

"In our dreams at the start of the season we saw them both playing," Hodgson told Albion's website.

"But we haven't realised that dream as yet. Peter's performances have been sporadic and he's had a lot of injuries and interruptions.

"So, we've yet to see what those two are like together properly.

"We won't know that until Peter is able to declare himself fit.

"He might struggle to get back into the team because also Tchoyi has not done badly in the games he's played, Cox is a current Ireland international and Fortune, in the games where I give him a chance, has not let the club down.

"It is something that gives me great hope for the season."