Nigeria Coach, To Recall Ayegbeni, Utaka

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has promised to hand recalls to forwards Yakubu Ayegbeni and John Utaka if they continue their run of form.

Both players have been in good form for their respective clubs, with Yakubu scoring a brace for Blackburn over the weekend and Utaka also netting before the international break.

The goals took Yakubu, who was granted British citizenship earlier his year, to five strikes for the season.

Neither have been called up for Nigeria since the 2010 World Cup where Utaka was an unused substitute as Nigeria finished bottom of the group with just one point.

Yak played all three games at the tournament, but is infamously remembered and unfortunately vilified for a close-range miss against South Korea; even though he went on to score a penalty less than a minute later.

But Keshi insists that they will get their opportunities.

“John Utaka has been a very good player. An outstanding player with great quality. You just have to know how to use him,” the Nigeria coach said.

“I am not surprised about his performance. I know him, just like Yakubu. These are people that have a lot of experience that we can use in the Nigeria team to make us better.

“If you play them in the right position and make them believe they are among the best players in the world, they will give you everything.

“They are Nigerians and if they are performing well, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t invite them.”

Keshi says the team, the young players and the players themselves will benefit from having the experience of the duo in the squad.

“I think it’s going to be a big challenge for them to come down should I give them the opportunity and for the younger ones to learn from them.

“You want to play with young players, at the same time you want to have a balance of youth and experience which will give you equilibrium and make you a better team.”