West Brom players are reluctant to accept Peter Odemwingie back...

West Brom star Steven Reid says their unimpressed squad will only accept Peter Odemwingie back if the club order them too.

Odemwingie’s high-profile failed attempt to force through a deadline day move to Premier League rivals QPR has angered many team-mates.

And fans, who unveiled an ‘Odemwingie Out’ banner at home to Spurs on Sunday, are also fuming with the Nigerian international striker.

Baggies striker Odemwingie,31, who was sent home from Albion on Friday in disgrace, still has 18 months left on his contract at The Hawthorns.

But experienced defender Reid, 31 who played for QPR on loan in 2009, is in no hurry to see the attacking ace again.

Asked if he would welcome Odemwingie back, a reluctant Reid replied: “We will have to see. It is up to the club how they deal with it. If it does happen then I am sure we will get on with it.

“There might come a point in the rest of the campaign when he is needed. But it is up to the gaffer and it is up the club. It is just a matter the club are dealing with. But there are enough characters and leaders and good lads in the dressing room to get through it.”

Reid also refused to encourage Albion supporters to forgive the striker, who is expected to return to training later this week.

Osaze Eats Words, Apologizes...

Estranged Super Eagles attacker Osaze Odemwingie has said he regrets his abusive Twitter comments. He claimed they were made because coach Stephen Keshi was not fair to him.

The West Bromwich striker had in the wake of the release of the Nigeria provisional team list for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations taken to his Twitter account and made disparaging comments against Keshi, the team captain and some Nigeria Football Federation officials. Past coaches, including Samson Siasia and Lars Lagerback, were not spared and continued days later with direct hits at ex-Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba.

However, the England-based forward said his mistakes were made in a fit of anger.

On Sunday, he described Chris Green whom he had abused also “as a good man.”

“I remember it was Green who settled my case with Siasia then, but I was too angry when he called me over this matter, and was impatient to listen to him,” he said in a comment published by Mtnfootball.com.

“My comment was not directed at him personally, but to those who made the decision, but I think I overreacted then.”

On his face-off with Keshi, he said, “I called the coach two or three times within that period, maybe two or three days before the list was made public and told him of my commitment to be part of the Nations Cup, and have told my (club) coach I will be going to the Nations Cup.

“I told the coach I was ready to report to camp by January 3, even before other professionals start reporting to camp, if I were in his programme for the Nations Cup, and even told him to feel free to drop me, if I were not in his programme.

“I felt betrayed after that seeming heart-to-heart discussions with the coach few days to the release of the team list and he could not hint me I was not in his plan for the Nations Cup.

“I am human and open to errors by the way I may have taken the issue, and regret the whole controversy, and want to put all this behind me now and focus on my club career, while wishing the team the best of luck as a Nigerian.”

In Faro, Portugal, Russia-based Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike as well as Italy-based midfielder Ogenyi Onazi arrived at the Eagles camp on Sunday. Raheem Lawal, who now plays in the Turkish second division showed up just as the players prepared for a training session.

Keshi has said apart from Ikechukwu Uche, who has been given January 6, January 5 remains deadline for all players.