Peter Odemwingie has vowed to prove that he deserves a new contract with Stoke City before the end of the season.

The striker, who is out of contract with the Potters at the end of the season, returned from an eight-month absence due to a knee ligament injury during the team's draw with Sunderland last weekend.

The Nigeria international told the club's website: "Since coming on for those final 15 minutes I have felt even better than I was before, and that can only be a good thing for me as we come towards the final few matches of the season.

"Now, I need to test myself and push myself to reach the standards that I set during the second half of last season. If I do get a new contract here, which of course I hope I do, I want it to be for footballing reasons, so I know I need to prove my fitness and help the team to end the season strongly.

"That's all I am thinking about at the moment. I don't want to push for talks because I know I have to show that I can be an asset to the club over the final four matches."

Odemwingie scored six goals in 15 appearances for Stoke last season after joining from Cardiff City in January 2014.