Roy Hodgson warns West Brom fans the Baggies are in a 12-team battle

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson has braced the Baggies for a 12-team battle for Premier League survival as they prepared to kick off their crucial Christmas programme.

The head coach believes up to a dozen teams will be involved in the scrap against relegation as the club seek a third successive Premier League season.

The Baggies are 13th, just two points behind ninth-placed Norwich and five clear of the relegation zone, as they prepare to face seventh-placed surprise package Newcastle on Tyneside tomorrow.

And Hodgson, whose side beat Blackburn on Saturday to improve their position, said: "I don't think it's an exaggeration to say as many as 12 teams are going to be swapping places on a regular basis.

"It's going to be important for all those 12 teams to pick up the points where they can.

"As a result, had we won last week against Wigan we would have been sitting here feeling very good about ourselves and people would have been talking about the Europa League.

"The table position looks a bit healthier and that will do for me at the moment."

The Baggies boss saw key striker Peter Odemwingie return to the scoresheet on Saturday with the Baggies' dramatic late winner at Ewood Park.

And Hodgson reckons the Nigeria international's three-week spell free from injury will help him rediscover his own form and cement his partnership with summer signing Shane Long.

He said: "Now he's fit he will kick on. Peter's season has been blighted by injury and he's not really been able to get that run of games.

"More important than the run of games is the run of training sessions. He and Shane will get better and better."