Etebo To Be Scrutinized Against Argentina's Messi & Croatia's Rakitić

As suggested by allnigeriasoccer.com on Tuesday, former Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike will not make his debut for Las Palmas when they take on La Liga pacesetters Barcelona at Estadio de Gran Canaria on March 1 as the striker is sidelined with a knee injury.

Las Palmas manager Paco Jémez has confirmed his 19-man squad for the game and has omitted both Emenike and 2016 Olympics star Imoh Ezekiel.

Ezekiel not making the squad is a tactical decision by the coach as the striker trained with the first-teamers on Tuesday.

But Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo is on the list and it is all but confirmed that the CD Feirense loanee will make his fifth straight start in the Spanish top-flight.

Etebo and the other 18 players selected have been requested to assemble at Hotel Cristina by 1200 hours tomorrow.

The performance of the central midfielder will be scrutinized back home as he is expected to face Argentina's Lionel Messi and Croatia's Ivan Rakitić.

Las Palmas Squad vs Barcelona

Goalkeepers: Raúl Lizoain and Leandro Chichizola.
Defenders: Matías Aguirregaray, David García, Michel Macedo, Alejandro Gálvez, Ximo Navarro and Dani Castellano.
Midfielders: Vicente Gómez, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alen Halilovic, Nacho Gil, Jairo Samperio, Javi Castellano, Tana and Aquilani.
Strikers: Jonathan Calleri, Hernán Toledo and Erik Expósito.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel