I wanted to leave West Brom – Odemwingie

Steven Clare, West Brom, coach convinced me to stay, says Odemwingie.

By Tunde Eludini

He already has two games under his belt with one goal and one assist to his credit. However the Nigerian forward, Osaze Odemwingie, has revealed that he initially considered dumping his English Premier League side, West Bromwich Albion, during the just concluded transfer session.

The fast paced striker said he reconsidered his position after discussing with the club’s new Manager, Steven Clarke, who persuaded him to stay with the Baggies.

The 31-year-old Nigeria international, said he had doubts over his ability to play at the top level, but rediscovered his desire to play in the Barclays Premier League.

Odemwingie, who scored 15 goals in his first top flight campaign two seasons ago, was the target of a failed bid by Qatari club, Al-Gharafa, this summer. He was also linked with the likes of Fulham and West Ham during the peak of transfer deals.

During the pre-season build up, there were even rumours of a training pitch bust-up between Odemwingie and Clarke. But Odemwingie has denied the rift, saying instead, it was a conversation with Clarke that made him reconsider his future.

“Summer was a time when, at my age, I had second thoughts about continuing to play at this level,” Odemwingie told the Express and Star.

“But the club said that it was too early for me to go and they thought I could play an important role for them and keep playing. Then pre-season started and I got hungry again for Premier League action and I forgot about it. I don’t know where (talk of the bust-up) came from. People would have seen afterwards if there was a problem,” Odemwingie said.

Odemwingie, who has been making the headlines in England, was not invited to join the Super Eagles team currently preparing for this weekend’s important Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with the Lone Stars of Liberia.