Odion Ighalo is agonisingly close to achieving his dream of playing for the senior Nigeria team after he received his first call-up.

It has been a great week for Ighalo after he was given the all-clear to return to action at Wigan Athletic tonight and was called-up for the Super Eagles' two friendlies later this month.

The 25-year-old has been limited to just one substitute outing in the Hornets' last four games due to a hamstring injury but he is expected to make the 18-man squad at the DW Stadium.

And after Saturday's home fixture with Ipswich Town, there is a two-week international break, where Nigeria will face Bolivia at home on Thursday, March 26 and then they travel to Mbombela to take on South Africa three days later.

Ighalo has represented Nigeria at Under-20 level but his 14 goals in ten league games has been recognised by the Super Eagles' caretaker manager and ex-Everton striker Daniel Amokachi.

Via his Twitter page, Ighalo said: "Happy to be back in the squad for tonight's game and my call up to the Nigeria national team. God is faithful."

Ighalo said he hoped his improved form would be recognised by a Nigeria call-up when he spoke to the Watford Observer in January.

"I have not played for Nigeria’s first team but it is something I am hoping to do," Ighalo said. "It is every footballer’s dream to play for their national team and it is the same for me.

"It is something I am looking forward to achieving one day. If I am called-up for the next game then I will go. If not, I will continue to work harder to get in the squad."

Watford duo Ikechi Anya and Craig Cathcart could come face-to-face during the international break after they were called up by their respective countries.

Anya has been included in the Scotland party that face Northern Ireland in a friendly at Hampden Park on Wednesday, March 25. The Tartan Army then host Gibraltar in a 2016 European Championship qualifier on Sunday, March 29.

Following their game against the Scots, Cathcart’s Northern Ireland take on Finland in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday, March 29.

 

Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC); Theophilus Afelokhai (Kano Pillars); Chidiebere Eze (Ifeanyi Ubah United)

Defenders: Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC; Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Nelson Ogbonnaya (Heartland FC); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough); Akeem Latifu (Aalesunds FC); Leon Balogun (Darmstadt 98)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio); Steven Ukoh (Biel-Bienne FC); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City); Hope Akpan (Reading FC); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk); Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks FC); Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F); Brown Ideye (West Brom); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC); Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne); Moses Simon (KAA Gent); Ubong Moses (Kano Pillars); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves); Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC); Standby – Victor Moses (Stoke City)

 

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Gordon (Celtic), Marshall (Cardiff City), McGregor (Hull City).

Defenders: Berra (Ipswich Town), Forsyth (Derby County), Greer (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hutton (Aston Villa), Martin (Norwich City), Reynolds (Aberdeen), Robertson (Hull City), Whittaker (Norwich City).

Midfielder: Anya (Watford), Bannan (Bolton Wanderers), Brown (Celtic), Fletcher (West Bromwich Albion), Forrest (Celtic), Maloney (Chicago Fire), McArthur (Crystal Palace), Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Ritchie (Bournemouth), Russell (Derby County).

Forwards: Fletcher (Sunderland), May (Sheffield Wednesday), McCormack (Fulham), Naismith (Everton), Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers).

 

Northern Ireland squad 

Goalkeepers: R Carroll (Notts County), A Mannus (St Johnstone), M McGovern (Hamilton Academical).

Defenders: Cathcart (Watford), Hughes (Brighton), Baird (West Bromwich Albion), McAuley (West Bromwich Albion), Evans (Manchester United), Ferguson (Newcastle United) McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town), McCullough (Doncaster Rovers), McNair (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Davis (Southampton), Brunt (West Bromwich Albion), Clingan (Kilmarnock), Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Norwood (Reading), McLaughlin (Liverpool), Reeves (MK Dons), McCourt (Brighton), Dallas (Brentford).

Forwards: Lafferty (Norwich City), McGinn (Aberdeen), Ward (Derby County), Magennis (Kilmarnock), McKay (Wigan Athletic), Grigg (MK Dons).