Hodgson leaves out star duo

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson will be without Peter Odemwingie and Gabriel Tamas for Sunday’s final-day trip to Newcastle United.

Odemwingie has hit 15 goals this term but has been struggling with an ankle problem.

The 29-year-old has been allowed to start his summer break early to allow him to return fresh next season.

“Peter Odemwingie will not play in this game for a variety of reasons,” Hodgson said.

“I do not know which is the most important to be perfectly honest. He has got an ankle problem we’ve been nursing him through.”

“Equally important is that he has played a year-and-a-half’s football without having the chance to get a break and in particular get the chance to go back and see his mother in Moscow.”

“Thirdly, he has got matches coming up for Nigeria quite a long way into June. I do know he was hoping to avoid the friendly matches and just play the qualifiers.”

“But I do not know if he has been allowed to do that.”

“With that combination of reasons it was, in my opinion, important to give him the chance to get back and see his mother this week and not take any risk with his ankle.”

Defender Tamas has picked up a knock and has a hectic schedule of international football with Romania on the horizon. The 27-year-old will not be risked on Sunday.

“He has got a slight knock and links up with Romania, who after their Euro 2012 qualifiers, have a South American tour, so his holiday – had he stayed until the end of this week – would have been two weeks,” Hodgson said.

“This is a chance to allow him more of a break and I was not sure I was going to use him in this game because I have other options.”

“Otherwise we have a fully fit squad to choose from, which is quite incredible at this stage of the season, and we’ll be looking to put out the strongest team we can.”