West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson has denied reports that Nigeria striker Osaze Odemwingie is set to undergo ankle surgery.Nigeria coach Samson Siasia claimed that the Super Eagle will be having an operation ‘as soon as possible’.
However, Hodgson has told the West Brom website that this is not the case, even though Odemwingie is travelling to the Netherlands to see a specialist.
“There is no question of an operation for Peter,” said Hodgson. Instead, Hodgson revealed that Odemwingie is joining club colleague Zoltan Gera on a trip to Amsterdam in the hope of receiving the all-clear from a specialist on Wednesday.
“The doctor, Mark Gillett, has a very good relationship with him and whenever Peter has a poor game he looks to his ankle.
“That’s what he’s been doing ever since I’ve been at the club and whenever things aren’t going his way and he’s not in top form, he looks at his ankle.”
Either way, Odemwingie – who was blamed by many fans for missing chances in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Guinea – will not play in Nigeria’s friendly against Ghana on Tuesday night.
Failing to win the Guinea game meant Nigeria failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time since the 1986 tournament.
“Osaze has been playing with painkillers and after speaking with the doctor, we all agreed that he should have his surgery as soon as possible,” Siasia had said earlier on Tuesday.
“It is his career that is on the line, and it is very important for us to put the health and welfare of our players first, above everything else.”
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