West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson has urged Peter Odemwingie to forget his Nigeria woes.

The 30-year-old striker came in for some harsh criticism for his performance in Nigeria's 2-2 draw with Guinea on Saturday, with a last-gasp equaliser meaning the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup for the first time since 1986.

Hodgson told the WBA website: "The last thing Peter needed at the moment was to go and be heavily criticised in Nigeria but we could have been lucky, he could have gone to Nigeria, had a wonder-game, scored three goals and been carried off as the hero - and that would have helped us a great deal.

"It's just one of those things and there's nothing we can do about it except make certain that when he comes back he divorces Nigeria from West Bromwich Albion."

He added: "We think here he is a very good player, we believe in him very much, we think he's going to be the man alongside Shane Long, and possibly Tchoyi and Cox, who are going to keep us in this division.

"We need to make certain he understands that.

"We can't help what's going on in Nigeria, we just have to make certain he comes to terms with that and deals with it.

"We will make it clear it has no impression on us whatsoever and, as far as we're concerned, he is the Peter Odemwingie of West Bromwich Albion that we appreciate, are impressed by and we know will do very well, even though in 38 games he will play some very good ones, some pretty good ones and some not so good ones, because that's what front players do.

"I don't think there's any front player in the world who is different.

"Against Bayern Munich Aguero was taken off the field after 60 minutes after three or four games previously running the show.

"It doesn't make him a bad player; it just means it's not his night."