West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie has hit back in his dispute with the club over the extent of his knee injury.
Odemwingie posted pictures of the injured knee on Twitter as he sought to deny assertions he may be embellishing his fitness worries.
Baggies boss Roy Hodgson has expressed his frustration at Odemwingie's continued absence from the first team following an injury-interrupted start to the season.
Hodgson claimed earlier this week that Albion had so far got "nothing" out of Odemwingie - who netted 15 goals last term - this season, adding he was "difficult to work out".
The striker, who has been out of action for a month, has hit back though on Twitter and claimed he is closing in on a return after returning to training.
The Nigeria international posted a picture that appeared to show him pressing down on the injured knee, with an attached post: "Picture of injury. Fingerprints to show an edema (accumulation of fluid), still present after three and a half weeks. Trained with the group today (Thursday)."
In another tweet, which was subsequently deleted, Odemwingie then wrote: "Picture taken now. My dear West Brom fans, I do care".
Odemwingie is also pictured holding one of the newspaper articles in which he was criticised by Hodgson.
The Albion chief had said: "Peter is difficult to work out. He was supposed to be fit for the Arsenal game but wasn't.
"Then he was definitely going to be fit for the Bolton game, but wasn't. He is supposed to be fit for the Tottenham game and now there is a doubt about that.
"I take any optimism with a pinch of salt and I'm frustrated because we've got nothing out of Odemwingie this year (season)."
Odemwingie was linked with Spurs before he signed a new three-year deal with Albion in August, while the club also rejected a bid from Wigan for his services.
He has netted only two goals this season as instead it has been summer signing, Shane Long, who has impressed up front with four goals in 10 appearances.
Midfielder Paul Scharner is also winning his race to face Spurs after a three-week lay-off with a knee setback.
Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko could start his first Premier League game of the season this weekend after manager Harry Redknapp revealed Jermain Defoe and Rafael van der Vaart could miss Saturday's trip to The Hawthorns through injury.
Van der Vaart came off in the second half of Monday's 2-0 win over Aston Villa with a long-standing hamstring complaint and is a doubt for the match while Defoe is struggling with a groin injury he suffered in training on Thursday.
Michael Dawson (Achilles), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) Niko Kranjcar (thigh) and Danny Rose (ankle) are unavailable.
