Lars Lagerback names Victor Anichebe and John Utaka in Nigeria squad

New Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback named Everton striker Victor Anichebe and Portsmouth forward John Utaka in his provisional 30-man World Cup squad on Monday.

Lagerback recalled the England-based pair in his first squad since taking over from the sacked Amodu Shaibu earlier this year.

Anichebe returned to action with Everton in the Premier League at the beginning of May, while Utaka was recalled by Lagerback after missing out on selection for the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

The Swedish coach also picked Anichebe's Everton teammates Joseph Yobo, who has recently recovered from injury, and striker Yakubu Ayegbeni.

Veteran Nwankwo Kanu, who made his international debut in 1994 and captained Nigeria to gold at the 1996 Olympics, has been included in the provisional squad, which will be trimmed down to 23 players for the World cup.

Lagerback said Monday he was not under any pressure from the Nigerian Football Federation to choose particular players.

"Individual skills and fitness levels were considered when picking the players," Lagerback said, "so it does not matter if a player is 20 or 35 years old."

Promising midfielder Lukman Haruna of French club Monaco was also selected. Haruna, who turned 20 last month, led Nigeria's under-17 team to World Cup victory in 2007. He made Nigeria's initial African Cup squad in January but was dropped from the final roster for the tournament.

Utaka's younger brother Peter, who plays in Denmark for Odense, was also part of the squad alongside Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.

Mikel missed the last part of the Premier League season with a knee problem but is expected to return to full fitness at the end of May, in time for Nigeria's pre-World Cup training camp in England. Nigeria has planned friendly matches against Saudi Arabia in Austria on May 25 and Colombia in London on May 30.

The team then completes its preparations against North Korea in South Africa on June 4. Lagerback has also given chances to two local players in his 30-man group. Goalkeeper Akpan Bassey and defender Peter Suswan are the only two members of the squad who play their club football in Nigeria.

Nigeria will play Argentina, South Korea and Greece in Group B. Lagerback resigned as Sweden coach after failing to qualify for South Africa and took charge of the Super Eagles in February after they finished third at the African Cup, which led to the departure of Shaibu.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele Ayenugba (Beni Yehuda FC), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United), Austine Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva)

Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow) Onyekachi Apam (Nice), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Daniel Shittu (Bolton), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Salzburg), Peter Suswan (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders: Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Sani Kaita (Alaniya), Lukman Haruna (Monaco), Ayila Yussuf (Dynamo Kyiv), Peter Osaze (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Forwards: Yakubu Ayegbeni (Everton), Victor Anichebe (Everton), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg), Ideye Brown (Sochaux), Ikechukwu Uche (Zaragoza), John Utaka (Portsmouth), Peter Utaka (Odense), Victor Obinna (Malaga).

Source: AP