Back home Peter Odemwingie was cast as Superman.

Now Albion’s leading scorer is hoping to fly to the Baggies’ Premier League aid and rescue them from derby-day defeat.

The 29-year-old’s exploits at Lokomotiv Moscow got him on the front cover of the Russian club’s magazine – in a superman suit.

And the Baggies’ resident ‘superhero’ is desperate to try out his goalscoring powers in the Premier League’s first ever Black Country derby on Sunday.

He said: “The people who do the magazine decided to cast us all as superheroes and they made me Superman.

“They took a picture of my head and put it on Superman’s body on the front of the club magazine.

“It wasn’t my initiative, they just did it, but I wasn’t unhappy about it. It was nice.

“I had good periods at Loko when I scored a few goals and hopefully that ‘Superman’ thing will come back, periodically.”

Odemwingie hopes to summon his special powers at the Hawthorns on Sunday, when the Baggies meet their fiercest rivals for the first time in a Premier League match.

The Nigeria international, who was born and raised in Russia, has been left in little doubt about the importance of the high-noon clash, in which local bragging rights and vital points in the fight against relegation are up for grabs.

And Odemwingie, who was voted by fans as Albion’s player of the month for January – the second time he has landed the award this season, doesn’t need reminding what is at stake.

He said: “When you walk down the street supporters tell you we have win against Wolves. I know that would make them happier than if we just won a regular game, so it is something to think about.

“I know if I can do something in this game it will make them very happy. I do enjoy big games, when there is pressure. It brings the best out in a player so I am looking forward to a serious game, especially now that both teams are in need of points.

“It’s going to be an interesting game. Even if you put aside the derby element, it’s a home game for us and, looking at the table, both teams need the points. Then, if you add to it the fact this is a derby, it makes it a really big game.

“As a West Brom player, scoring on Sunday would be a special feeling.”

Odemwingie might be a newcomer to Black Country skirmishes, but derby days are nothing new to the much-travelled forward.

At home in Moscow, cross-city clashes were among the highlights of his and Lokomotiv’s season.

And, the nine-goal forward has revealed, one of his proudest moments as a goalscorer came in a French derby encounter.

He said: “Lille versus Lens was a very hot derby and so far the only hat-trick I have scored in my career was for Lille against Lens.

“That came in a derby and it was great. I don’t know what will happen on Sunday but I would definitely love to score a goal.

“In Moscow there are lots of derbies and 10 years ago they were really hot with fights both on and off the pitch.

“Now it has changed and there is more respect, which is a positive thing, and everyone enjoys derbies. Self-control matters in these games both on the pitch and off the pitch.

“For Loko the supporters aren’t aggressive. They have younger crowds and lots of women so there isn’t too much trouble, but Loko against Spartak is really hot.

“Those were the games I really enjoyed in Moscow. Attendances to normal matches were poor but when we had a derby with CSKA, Spartak or Dinamo we got full stadia and that was really enjoyable.

“There is lots of preparation for them by the fans, lots of stretched banners, fireworks and other things so you feel it’s a big game and something special.”

Odemwingie is expecting a similarly intense atmosphere on Sunday when Albion and Wolves lock horns for the first time in three seasons with both clubs fighting to preserve their Premier League status.

But the mild-mannered Baggies front-runner has his fingers crossed that tempers are kept in check both on and off the field.

He said: “I know it is a derby and it is pretty hot – that’s why the game is played earlier in the day.

“In the Midlands there are many teams and maybe I will get to know the whole history.

“I know every derby is taken seriously and there is something about this one that makes it more aggressive.

“But I hope it doesn’t go too far because it’s football and we should all celebrate with each other.”