West Brom boss Roy Hodgson looks set to stick with striker Peter Odemwingie despite the Nigerian’s misfiring return from injury.

Last season’s leading scorer suffered a disappointing day in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Wigan after being recalled to partner summer signing Shane Long in attack.

But Hodgson gave his backing to the pairing and offered words of encouragement to Odemwingie, despite a flat display on his first start since being sidelined by a knee problem.

He said: “It’s understandable. He’s been out for quite a while. It was good he could play for 75 minutes because I still think he is a dangerous player. We had a lot of the ball and he had a lot of the ball.

“It didn’t fall for him on this occasion but it’s good for him that he was in there where it matters. It’s good to see him receiving the ball in areas where he is going to be under pressure.

“We know he is a quality player and, over the rest of the season, if I can get him up there playing with Shane Long on a regular basis I’m pretty sure we’ll be dangerous.

“We’ll see how that partnership develops.”

Hodgson refused to criticise Hawthorns fans who booed his decision to replace Youssouf Mulumbu with Graham Dorrans in the second half instead of substituting Odemwingie.

The head coach said: “Mulumbu is a popular player, so the crowd are as they are. That’s how they’re encouraged to be now. If they are watching their team at home and losing, then they are encouraged to boo.

“We had high hopes for this season and at the moment we haven’t got ourselves going in terms of points to satisfy those high hopes.

“We have to accept that, until we get ourselves near enough to the middle of the table, there will be boos if we don’t win matches at home.”

Hodgson declined to comment on a late penalty appeal that saw Graham Dorrans booked for diving, when replays suggested he might have been fouled by David Jones.

The Baggies boss said: “I’m under strict instructions from my wife to leave out talking about penalties.

“I’m too honest in those situations and it’s very galling to have to keep talking about those things.”