Nigeria Coach Rohr Hints At Bench Role For Four-Time AFCON Veteran Obi Mikel

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has stressed that Chelsea legend Obi Mikel is not an automatic choice in his starting line-up if he returns to the national team ahead of this summer's Africa Cup of Nations.

The Middlesbrough number 2 went on a self imposed sabbatical after the 2018 World Cup but everything indicates that he'll make himself available for selection before the tournament in Egypt.

''We need good players, we need experience, we need Mikel in good fitness so he can bring something to the team,'' Rohr said.

''We already have good players, it is a competition, nobody has his starting place guaranteed even Mikel has to fight.

''Perhaps he can come and not start the game also, you know this. All is possible, the best one will play. ''

The German football tactician went on : ''His experience again is very important and to be respected like a team if you play international tournaments or very important games, you need somebody like Mikel with his personality and influence on his teammates, sometimes also on the other people, it can be interesting.''

Mikel would be playing in his fifth AFCON if named on the Super Eagles roster for this year's edition, having represented the country in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : thenff.com