Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi said that Blackburn striker Yakubu Ayegbeni, will be recalled to the national team to prove himself. The 29-year-old has not been called by Nigeria since his horror miss against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup.

But with 12 goals for in the Premier League this season, Keshi says he is prepared to bring Yakubu back. “I want the best players in my squad and if the fifth top scorer in England is a Nigerian, then I want him as part of my team.” Keshi told BBC Sport.

Yakubu

“Yakubu is in a fantastic form, he is scoring goals and creating them in one of the best leagues in the world.

“If people want to live in the past with that one ‘miss’ at the World Cup, then football and time is the winner – I don’t even remember that anymore.

“How do you blame a man for one mistake when his past and present record shows he is undoubtedly the best we have at the moment.

“If the people in England and Europe respect his performance and we don’t — then there is a problem.