Posted by By Jeremy Robinson, The Sunday Sun on
Middlesbrough striker Yakubu is desperate to play for Nigeria in the African Nations Cup and admits his international aspirations could leave him on a collision course with Boro boss Steve McClaren.
Middlesbrough striker Yakubu is desperate to play for Nigeria in the African Nations Cup and admits his international aspirations could leave him on a collision course with Boro boss Steve McClaren.
Yakubu recently had a bust up with Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen after being left on the bench too much for his liking.
But he says he's prepared to put all that behind him should he get the call to link up with Nigeria in Cairo this January.
With the Supereagles opening fixture in the tournament against Ghana on January 23, Yakubu could miss as many as six games at a potentially crucial stage of the season.
"I'd love to play for Nigeria in the African Nations Cup if they want me to go - I am waiting for the call," Yakubu said.
"I never called the coach and he never called me after we fell out. I suppose sometimes as a player you will be asked to be on the bench in some situations.
" Though in international football if you feel you are one of the best players and you are not being chosen to play that is very frustrating.
"And you have the right to ask why when you are not being used - but I don't have anything against him and would certainly play for him if he picked me.
"Who knows what will happen; managers come and go, but I would love to play for Nigeria again - and when I was back home in Lagos last week everyone wanted to know if I'd be playing."
But Yakubu says he has yet to broach the subject of the African Nations Cup with McClaren.
"I would miss maybe five or six games here if I go and perhaps I will have to talk to the manager about that in the next couple of weeks," he admitted
"I'd love to go if Eguavoen he calls me - but if he doesn't, I will happily stay here at Middlesbrough, who I have a contract with."