Albion midfielder James Morrison has admitted keeping Peter Odemwingie will be key to the Baggies’ hopes of another Premier League survival season.

Morrison expects last season’s top-scorer to remain at the Hawthorns despite a summer of speculation linking the Nigeria international with a move elsewhere.

But the playmaker believes the outcome of Odemwingie’s ongoing contract talks will be crucial to the Baggies fortunes next season.

Morrison said: “It’s important, 100 per cent. One of the reasons we stayed up last season was Pete’s goals. If we had taken that out of the team we might have struggled.

“Pete loves the club and had a great season. I think he wants to continue that and prove it wasn’t a one-off season.

“He has embraced everything here and fingers crossed he signs a new contract at the club.”

Morrison and Odemwingie are back in pre-season training as boss Roy Hodgson gears up for his first full season in charge.

And the 25-year-old believes Hodgson will put more of his own imprint on the Baggies thanks to a full pre-season of working with his players.

He said: “James has got six weeks of pre-season. He will bring players in and this will be his team.

“He had 12 games in charge last season and I think it showed in the performances that we changed our style of play.

“I think it was Roy’s type of football that we played.”

Morrison was speaking at the official launch of Albion’s new junior membership scheme for the 2011-12 season.

Every junior member will be able to enter exclusive competitions and be chosen as the Baggies’ official matchday mascot, as well as enjoying ticket priority and discounts and receiving a membership pack containing exclusive merchandise.

The scheme, which costs just £20 to join, has been divided into three age categories – newborn babies to three-year-olds, youngsters aged four to 11 and 12 to 16-year-olds.

‘Baby Baggies’ will cater for children aged nought to three, ‘Albi’s Army’ for four to 11-year-olds, and ‘Stripes 4 Life’ for 12 to 16-year-olds.

Information and application forms are available from Jan Lockley on 0871 271 9840 or email marketing@wbafc.co.uk.