Obafemi Martins expected to make return to Nigeria national team

A "highly-placed source" told Complete Sports Nigeria that Obafemi Martins is on the verge of being called up to the Nigerian national team next month for what would be the Seattle Sounders forward's first international appearance since 2013.

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh is reportedly unhappy with the offensive output of the Super Eagles as of late, and is considering recalling Martins for November's 2018 preliminary World Cup qualifier against either Djibouti or Swaziland. Nigeria's first-choice strikers as of late, Odion Ighalo and Emmanuel Emenike, have been rather ordinary for the international side and coach Oliseh hopes Martins could provide competition and an option off the bench.

Despite struggles with injury at times, Martins has been in excellent form for the Sounders this season, scoring 14 goals in 18 MLS appearance so far. Oliseh is also reportedly in need of an aggressive forward to press high up the pitch, something Sounders fans are used to seeing from Martins.

If Martins does indeed get called up and chosen to play, he'll be making his 40th appearance for the national side and could add to the 18 goals he's scored for the Super Eagles since he was first called up in 2004.

Martins was a semi regular with the Super Eagles through 2010, when his international career reached its peak and then suddenly fell off. Martins earned 12 caps that year, including two appearances at the World Cup. But after Nigeria's disappointing one-point performance, Martins and several of his teammates fell out of favor. Since then, Martins has received just two caps.