West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson admits he could release Simon Cox for loan.

Cox is concerned he may miss the Republic of Ireland's Euros squad if he remains on the Baggies bench.

"I've got a lot of time for Simon Cox," Hodgson told the WBA website. "I think he has gone about his business very, very well as a professional during my time at the club.

"It's true he doesn't get as many chances as he would like - and maybe even would deserve on occasions.

"But that's because there is competition for places in his area of the field. I would certainly be unhappy and loath to see him go.

"We'll wait to see what transpires and when the situation occurs where there is a club that wants to take him - and he wants to go - we'll have a decision to make. But I'd be perfectly happy if that situation doesn't arise and he stays with us."

The Albion chief added: "I could envisage a situation where someone loaned him for a month and then we reviewed the situation. We'd look at our list of games and work out what he's going to miss and work out the risk.

"I'd think 'I don't really want to lose him but will the four games he gets elsewhere outweigh the risk of losing him for three of our games?'

"That situation could well occur, as it has with Marc-Antoine Fortune for example, and Joe Mattock and George Thorne. I didn't really want to lose them.

"But getting a month down in Portsmouth with Michael Appleton, and playing every week, we think will make them stronger.

"And if we want to recall them Michael will have to look elsewhere. So, it's an interesting suggestion - but a lot would have to tie up and fall into place."