West Brom players are welcoming Odemwingie

Defender Gareth McAuley and goalkeeper Ben Foster are adamant the Nigeria forward remains a huge part of the set-up despite his efforts to force a move to Queens Park Rangers.

The 31-year-old argued with fans on Twitter and was involved in an angry verbal exchange with team-mate Steven Reid last week, but has since struck a peace deal with West Brom officials.

McAuley insisted: "It's fine. The lads realise that if Pete is on the pitch, playing well and scoring goals, everyone benefits from it.

"That's how we're looking at it. Everything is fine now. The line has been drawn and now we're back talking about football.

"Monday at Liverpool was an important win for us and an important clean sheet to get that feelgood factor going again.

"Once you get on the pitch you forget about other things.

But it's been well-documented and it was important that we got back on the pitch and people started talking about things other than what was happening off the pitch.

"When we're out there together and everyone is pulling together we're a good side. We need Pete back on the pitch, playing and scoring goals for us."

Odemwingie travelled to Anfield on Monday but did not make the matchday 18 for the Baggies' 2-0 Premier League win.

His indiscretions coincided with Goran Popov's red card for spitting – an incident that also led to angry words behind the scenes.

But Foster said: "Goran and Peter are good people and they're our friends. You see people every single day in training and you get to know them and their family.

"It (Odemwingie's transfer request) was an unfortunate incident but we've just got to carry on. Peter is an important part of our team.

"When he's on form he's an absolute world-beater, so we will welcome him back into the squad with no qualms whatsoever."