Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo will not try to gag outspoken defender Paul Scharner and insists he has drawn a line under the Austrian’s outburst.

Scharner questioned his team-mates’ attitude in the build-up to last weekend’s 3-2 win over Blackpool.

And Di Matteo has played down the impact of the comments but admitted he does not know whether Scharner would make similar statements in future.

The head coach said: “You would have to ask him that question, I cannot be responsible for people’s actions. We live in a democracy, in a free world with freedom of speech.

“It is dealt with, it’s gone. It hasn’t been a big issue and we have drawn a line under it. That wasn’t a big issue. It has been dealt with and there is no problem.

“I spoke to him and to the team and there is no problem.”

Di Matteo hopes to follow up Saturday’s win over the Seasiders with another victory at Ewood Park on Sunday against Blackburn Rovers.

And he hopes leading scorer Peter Odemwingie’s two-goal return last weekend has given his confidence a shot in the arm after his costly penalty miss against Manchester United.

The Italian said: “Strikers live off goals and confidence and players in general live off confidence.

“When they are full of confidence they can achieve results that they don’t even think they’re capable of. For a striker in particular goals are their bread and butter and I think it was a kind of liberation for him.

“He was disappointed he didn’t score the penalty against Manchester United and felt a little bit of responsibility.

“But he has made his contribution during this season and the fact he has had a few niggling injuries hasn’t helped him and got him a bit out of rhythm.

“We know what a great guy he is and even if he doesn’t score he works hard for the team and creates space and makes chances.

“He is used to having a break over Christmas and new year time and we have been nursing him from the start, not just now.

“We have known about that all along. We check on our players on a daily basis, even when they’re not in.

“They are well controlled.”

The Baggies take on Blackburn just three weeks after they lost 3-1 at home to the same opponents.

But Di Matteo does not believe that result will have a bearing on Sunday’s game.

He said: “We have to forget the past and just look forward to the game on Sunday against Blackburn. They have signed another player now and they will be playing at home.

“We just have to look at it as a single game, because it will be a different story there to at the Hawthorns.”

Di Matteo played down the potential impact of Roque Santa Cruz, who is in line for a second home debut after re-joining on loan from Manchester City.

The Baggies boss said: “It isn’t an individual sport, it’s a team sport so we will have to be aware not just of him but of other players.

“Obviously he is a good striker and we will have to be aware of him but they have got other players who can hurt you as well.”