Tag: Osaze

MARK HUGHES has revealed that Peter Osaze Odemwingie is likely to be named in the matchday squad this afternoon for the first time in almost eight months.

The Nigeria international hasn’t featured for The Potters since suffering cruciate knee ligament damage during the historic 1-0 triumph over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last August.

The 33-year-old returned to full training last week having completed his rehabilitation and Hughes has today delivered the news that the forward is in contention to feature against The Black Cats.

“Peter Odemwingie has looked really good, and whilst we don’t want to compromise him, which we won’t, he will be on the bench tomorrow,” the Welshman revealed at the pre-match press conference on Friday.

“It is a real positive for us to have him back in the group and available to get back into the squad again. He has put a tremendous amount of work in, his levels of fitness are really good and he has come through everything we have asked of him over the past week or so.

“He is in a real good place and is confident. Obviously he had a really big smile on his face when I pulled him aside and spoke to him about that today.”

Hughes also confirmed that both Stephen Ireland and Peter Crouch are both available for selection, but has confirmed that Spanish youngster Marc Muniesa will miss out.

PETER Odemwingie is to return to full training today after nearly eight months out with knee ligament damage.

The forward has been missing since being stretchered off in Stoke’s 1-0 win over Manchester City in late August but is now nearing a return to the first team.

He has already been involved in small practice games and hopes to be pushing for a place in Mark Hughes’s squad in the final few weeks of the season.

“It’s scheduled to be my first day of training with the team and I’m looking forward to it, it’s been a long few months,” he said.

“I’m pleased I could recover in perhaps not the fastest time ever but there is no doubt sometimes it takes longer. Hopefully I can build my confidence in the knee and pick up from where I stopped.

“There are still five games after this weekend so hopefully I can take part in a few.

“I’ve been playing games for about 40 minutes. That’s not the tempo of the Premier League but I’ll build that quick. I don’t know if I’ll be ready for a full 90 minutes this season but if I can come on a few times that will be good.

“But you never know, all I have to do is take it day by day. For me just training is now a big thing, a big test.”

Odemwingie made an instant impression since joining from Cardiff in January last year in a swap deal that saw Kenwyne Jones move in the other direction.

His contract is due to end this summer and he hopes getting back to play will help his case for a new deal.

He said: “There haven’t been talks yet, I have just had to get fit. There has been no need to look for talks, I have to get fit and then the rest will look after itself.

“We will see soon because the time is coming. I am approaching the end of my contract and it was logical everyone has to wait until I get fit.

“Now I’m back training and hopefully I’ll play a few games and see what happens.”

The 34-year-old admitted that he was tentative when he started kicking balls again … which meant his normal precision finishing was a bit off.

He said: “It felt great to strike a ball for the first time again. On Tuesday I forgot myself and had a full whack with the left foot. So I was happy with that.

“At first all my balls were  flying over as high as rugby players would kick it.

“I was a bit scared of my knee so I packed in all my body and just hit under the ball and they all went up, up, up.

“But every week I’ve improved in something and I feel more confident. It’s just a matter of time to get back to 100 per cent fitness.”

The Nigeria World Cup star said he has no nerves about how his left knee is holding up now. In fact, it has been difficult to hold him back.

“I’m surprised I wasn’t scared for the first mini games I played. I thought I would be but I just love it so much I got carried away and forgot,” said the forward, who was speaking after a round at Trentham Golf Club in Stoke’s annual golf day.

“Normally when you return from a long injury and you keep it simple but I was taking people on just like I used to. It was great fun.

“It was an innocuous injury. That’s often how they happen, you’re just on your own and it’s a pity. Since I’ve been a kid I’ve played football and I’ve done worse things and not get hurt. You never know why these things happen.

“All I could do was hope for a good surgery and that went well. It was a difficult rehabilitation process but the medical team did well for me and I kept getting encouragement from the players and the fans.

To have that feeling that people are waiting for you and now the time is here.”

Super Eagles psychologist, Robinson Okosun says he will be shocked if Peter Odemwingie decides to call time on his international career now.

Odemwingie last played for Nigeria on June 30, 2014 in a second round World Cup game against France which the Super Eagles lost 0-2.

Speculations have been making the rounds that Odemwingie would toe the path of former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo who promptly announced his international retirement after the 2014 World Cup but Okosun says he will be shocked if that scenario plays out.

“I have heard the rumours (that Odemwingie is about to quit international football) and that is what they are; rumours.

“As far as I am concerned, he is still very relevant in the scheme of things and is one of the most technically gifted players this country has ever produced,” Okosun told supersport.com.

Odemwingie is currently sidelined from action with a knee injury but is expected back in action before the end of the current Barclays English Premier League campaign in May.

The striker revealed that he stopped watching football during the early stages of the injury and Okosun, who enjoys a close relationship with the player says the action was “perfectly in order”.

“Osas (Odemwingie) was perfectly in order to do that. As a football psychologist I can tell you that reactions to serious injuries depend on the mental strength of individual players.

“Some can manage it perfectly well while others can’t. Watching such games could perhaps bring about positive or negative feelings that may further depress a player which could slow down his recovery rate.

“Positive feelings when his team is winning and negative when his team loses. The player may also harbour thoughts like; ‘Oh if only I was fit to play, perhaps I could have helped my team to win’.

“Again not watching his club games would help reduce tension and anxiety that could prolong recovery. It’s not just to cope with the psychological blow of d injury but again to minimise negative distractions and allow for total concentration in terms of monitoring progress of his rehabilitation.

“Hence I praise Osaze’s strong mental strength which has been evident in his accelerated recovery.

“I have also been monitoring his progress since he started his rehabilitation shortly after his successful surgery. We have been comparing notes till date and all is going according to script,” he said.

Odemwingie has scored 11 goals in 65 appearances for Nigeria at senior level.

Experienced Stoke City attacker Peter Odemwingie is making good progress on his road to recovery.

The Nigeria international has been on the sidelines since September after undergoing surgery to repair his knee ligaments which he damaged against Manchester City at the end of August.

But on Monday, the ex-Lokomotiv Moscow and West Brom star revealed that he has started rehabilitation.

“Big day for me today as I got to the 3 months mark and had my first run on the pitch since the op. Hope our boys make the day even better!,” Peter Odemwingie said on Twitter .

Before the setback, the striker made two appearances in the English Premier League.

Peter Osaze Odemwingie left the World Cup at the second round stage after Nigeria lost 2-0 to France but Stoke City FC who feature in the English Premier League celebrated Peter Odemwingie, Asmir Begovic, Geoff Cameron and Wilson Palacios for making the Potters proud at the World Cup.

According to the club’s official website, the FIFA World Cup in Brazil has brought pride to everyone connected to Stoke City and some interesting records were noted.

“Arguably one the greatest World Cup Finals in modern history, this year’s competition has brought great pride with everybody connected to Stoke City,” the website stated.

“It is the first time in the Club’s history that four individual players representing the Potters have played for their country in a single World Cup tournament.”

Peter Odemwingie was also celebrated as the first ever Potters player to score at the World Cup, it was also the first time two players from Stoke City will go head to head at the World Cup.

“There was also another first as two Stoke City players went head-to-head against each other as Begovic and Odemwingie put their friendship to one side when Bosnia and Herzegovina took on Nigeria during the group stages.”

“Remarkably, during the same game, the Nigerian became the first ever Potters player to score at a World Cup tournament when he netted past Begovic to secure a 1-0 win.”

Stoke City through its website did thank the Potters players for a good representation of the club at the World Cup.

“Everybody at Stoke City Football Club would like to pass on our overwhelming pride to Asmir Begovic, Geoff Cameron, Peter Odemwingie and Wilson Palacios for playing their part on the biggest stage in world football whilst representing the Potters. The football we have seen has been entertaining, nail biting and most of all exciting.”

“Enjoy a much deserved break and we look forward to welcoming you back on the Potteries for what will hopefully be another memorable Barclays Premier League campaign.”

 

Stoke City striker Peter Odemwingie has sent a clear message to Stephen Keshi by saying he’d be a great addition to Nigeria’s World Cup squad.

The 32-year-old Stoke City forward has been in exile from the international scene since a public spat with manager Stephen Keshi in 2012.

“It’s not a question of whether I believe I will strengthen the team, I will be a useful player for the team, and I want to be there. It’s a team that has been doing well over the past year, but every team needs depth,” he told FourFourTwo magazine.

“The World Cup is about 23 players, not just 11. The matches come every three or four days, there can be injuries and other things. I am 100 per cent sure I would be a great addition to our national team in the World Cup. I’m in good form physically and psychologically,” he further added.

English Premier League side, Stoke City have reached an agreement with Cardiff City over a move for Nigeria’s Osaze Odemwingie, which will see Kenwyne Jones head to south Wales in a player-exchange transfer.

The Potters have announced that the deal is subject to both strikers passing medicals and agreeing personal terms.

However, Stoke hope to conclude their move for Odemwingie before Monday.

Nigeria international Odemwingie only joined Cardiff in September, moving from West Brom for a fee believed to be in excess of £2million (about N529m).

The 32-year-old signed a two-year contract and netted twice in his first four games for the Bluebirds – however, he has failed to add to that tally in 13 appearances since.

Jones, a Trinidad and Tobago international once of Southampton and Sunderland, has fared better.

The 29-year-old has netted five goals in 10 games.

However, none of them have come in the Barclays Premier League, with four in the Capital One Cup and the other in the FA Cup defeat of Leicester earlier this month.