Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins had a frustrating African Nations Cup earlier this year when a slow recovery from a long-term shin injury prevented him from taking full part in Nigeria’s horribly-misfiring front-line.

His international goalscoring record of nearly a goal every other game suggests that he will be a valuable addition as Nigeria seek to regain the glories of their World Cup Finals’ debut in 1994.

And his brace of goals, including a spectacular late winner, in a 3-2 win against Kenya in Nairobi booked Nigeria’s flight to South Africa.

Martins came to prominence in Italian club football with spells at Reggiana and, more notably, Internazionale. He then moved to Newcastle and subsequently onto the then Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg.

Co-incidentally, he scored 28 times in 88 appearances for both Inter and Newcastle.

His international career has had no shortage of controversy. As well as the common occasional spat with national coaches, he was famously given an incorrect date of birth by the Nigerian FA in 2006.

This would have made him ineligible for his then-proposed move to the EPL. Martins threatened international football retirement. But he has been a Nigeria regular, when fit, since 2007, and has captained the side.