West Brom wary of Owen Hargreaves injury record

(GETTY IMAGES)

Roy Hodgson admits Owen Hargreaves' fitness record could scupper his chances of signing for West Brom.

Albion have had contact with Hargreaves, who was released at the end of last season by Manchester United.

But Hodgson is mindful of the fact the former England midfielder has played only 27 games in the past four years.

He told the Wolverhampton Express and Star: "Owen has been in contact with (Albion technical director) Dan Ashworth and I think he wants to meet up with us.

"But we've got to be realistic.

"We're talking about a player who hasn't played for three years. He is a big name player but so is Bobby Charlton!

"I think one of the last games Hargreaves played was in my first season at Fulham which is over three years ago, so we've got to be realistic."

A series of videos of Hargreaves working out were posted Youtube last week in an apparent attempt to dispel doubts about his fitness.

The Baggies are continuing their search for a new goalkeeper with West Ham's Robert Green and Birmingham's Ben Foster among possible candidates being eyed by Hodgson.

Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell is also on Hodgson's radar.