Everton Striker Victor Anichebe Can Help Fire Nigeria to 2014 World Cup Finals

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has targeted Everton striker Victor Anichebe for a return to his squad as he prepares for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, according to an interview he gave to BBC Sport.

In May, the Goodison Park forward put his international career on hold to "manage his body correctly," putting his his club before his country, as BBC Sport reported.

However, Keshi, who guided Nigeria to the African Cup of Nations trophy this year, wants the 25-year-old back in the international fold as his team chase a place at World Cup finals next year.

The Super Eagles need only a draw with Malawi in September to qualify for the final round of qualification as group winners.

However, in the five Group F matches so far, Nigeria have not registered more than one goal in each match. In his BBC Sport interview, Keshi says that views Anichebe as a possible answer to this conundrum.

"

Anichebe is a great striker. He is young, strong and gives us several options in attack. I plan to visit him in England and talk to him face to face.

I need the support of the Nigeria Football Federation to make this happen as soon as possible because we cannot afford to lose a player like Victor Anichebe.

"

Anichebe, who was born in Lagos before moving to Liverpool, began his international career with the England youth squad, but switched allegiances to Nigeria, as BBC Sport reported.

He made his Super Eagles senior debut in March 2008 in a qualifying game for the Beijing Olympics, and went on to win a silver medal with Nigeria at the Games.

But Anichebe was controversially omitted from the Nigeria squad by coach Lars Lagerback for the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010 due to injury, as Sky Sports reported.

However, Everton released a statement insisting the striker was not injured on their official website, Evertonfc.com.

Anichebe scored his first senior goal for Nigeria in a friendly against Kenya in March 2011 before picking up his groin injury six months later.

The Everton man might not be an out-and-out goalscorer, but his strength on the ball would provide Keshi and Nigeria with an ideal target man in the chase for a place at World Cup finals next summer.

Anichebe scored six times in 26 Premier League appearances last season, and also provided four assists on a team which struggled to find the net during the campaign.

The striker might only have put himself on a temporary hiatus from the international scene, but Keshi will recognise the immediate need to draft Anichebe back into the squad.

Now the Nigeria coach is acting on it, and Anichebe, can make a major impression in Brazil next year.