Roy Hodgson has expressed his mounting frustration at Peter Odemwingie’s continued absence.

The Nigerian striker has barely got going this season due to a series of injuries.

His latest problem relates to a knee injury sustained during a training session.

Yet Hodgson’s patience is starting to wear thin, not least as the 30-year-old has aborted several potential comebacks. It is the first time the Albion boss has talked so candidly about Odemwingie’s lack of progress – with his chances of making Saturday’s game against Spurs also receding.

“Peter is difficult to work out – you’d have to speak to the doctor about him,” conceded Hodgson. This is still the same problem he’s had for a month.

“He was supposed to be fit for the Arsenal game but wasn’t. Then he was definitely going to be fit for the Bolton game but wasn’t.

“And he is supposed to be fit for the Tottenham game and now there’s a doubt about that too. So I take any optimism with a pinch of salt

“I’m frustrated because we’ve got nothing out of him this year.

“He didn’t take part in many of the pre-season matches and he hasn’t taken part in many of the matches since then. It’s been one problem after another.

“For a player who we really put so much into, in the hope that he will be the one who will be our major force for staying in the Premier League, at the moment we have not had much of a return. We have a lot of players at the club who will play when not fully fit.

“That’s what makes it even harder when you get a player who is frustrated or is frustrating as it gets highlighted more when you’ve got the likes of the Geras, the Longs, the Reids and the Thomases who play through pain every week.”