West Brom duo Gareth McAuley and Ben Foster are confident a line has been drawn under the Peter Odemwingie affair.
Odemwingie was at the centre of controversy on transfer deadline day when he turned up at Loftus Road in the hope of pushing through a move to QPR despite having his transfer request rejected by the Baggies.
Despite being disciplined by the club he was omitted from the 17-man matchday squad for Monday's 2-0 win over Liverpool, although he did travel to Anfield to watch the match from the stands.
McAuley insists he has been welcomed back into the dressing room as the club turn their attention to securing their Premier League survival.
“Once you get on the pitch you forget about other things,” McAuley told the club's official website.
“But it’s been well-documented and it was just important that we got back on the pitch and people started talking about things other than what was happening off the pitch.
“That’s what we can do. When we’re out there and everyone is pulling together we’re a good side.
“We need Pete. We need him back on the pitch, playing and scoring goals for us.
“He’s had a few days off while things were going on so he only trained really for one day last week and he needs to get training again.
“He will get training again now and hopefully soon he’ll be involved in the games and scoring goals for us again.”
Foster agrees with McAuley and is confident Odemwingie will give everything he can to West Brom's push for European football.
“The lads realise that if Pete is on the pitch, playing well and scoring goals, everyone benefits from it," he stated.
“That’s how we’re looking at it.
“Everything is fine. The line has been drawn and now we’re back talking about football.
“Monday was an important win for us and an important clean sheet to get that feel-good factor going again.
“There are people who you work with that you see more than your family so you have to get on with people.
“You get to know them and their family. 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.
“And I’m sure he will join in and give 110 per cent like he always does. “
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