CHRIS Brunt believes Peter Odemwingie can be proud of his first-ever Premier League season - after first coming across the Nigerian on Championship Manager several years ago.

Nine-goal Odemwingie has been Albion’s top goalscorer this season and was this week named as runner-up to Vincent Enyeama in the Nigerian player-of-the-year awards.

Yet the striker has been misfiring of late having not scored since the opening day of last month and, more recently, being forced to make do with a place on the bench.

His frustrations were underlined during Saturday’s victory at Blues when he missed an open goal with a snatched shot from close range.

But Brunt has backed his team-mate to bounce back, admitting that his contribution to Albion’s survival campaign had been noted within the Baggies dressing room.

The Albion captain admits that he knew little about Odemwingie before his arrival to England, having only come across him on a computer game.

“He’s been very good for us,” said Brunt.

“I’d only heard of him on Championship Manager about five years ago - I don’t recall signing him though.

“I knew he played for Nigeria but I’d not seen much of him.

“Yet in that first game against Sunderland he showed what he could do.

“He earned a lot of respect to score a winner, getting man-of-the-match despite having barely trained.

“It’s a different League he’s come to and he didn’t know much about the Premier League.