Odejayi, who hit the headlines when he scored the goal that knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup, was born in Nigeria, but grew up in London.

Only five years ago, he was on the brink of quitting football after drifting into the non-league scene with Forest Green Rovers.

Now he is set to link up with the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Yakubu and Jon Mikel Obi as Nigeria look to bounce back from the disappointment of their African Cup of Nations campaign.

Barnsley paid £200,000 to Cheltenham for Odejayi's services last summer and, although he initially struggled to win over supporters, he is now a cult figure at Oakwell.

Despite scoring only four goals, and missing a golden opportunity to equalise against Cardiff City at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final, Odejayi, 26, has still impressed with his battling displays.

He is one of 10 English-based players selected in a 27-man squad by new Nigerian coach Saibu Amodu.

Nigeria play a friendly against Austria in Vienna on May 27 before kicking off their World Cup qualifying campagn with games against South Africa on June 1 and Sierra Leone six days later.

Those games are quickly followed by a double header against Equatorial Guinea on June 14 and 21.

Coach Amodu has dropped six players from the African Cup of Nations squad.

The other English-based players in the squad are:

Joseph Yobo, Yakubu, Aiyegbeni and Victor Anichebe (all Everton), Danny Shittu (Watford), Mikel (Chelsea), Seyi Olofinjana (Wolves), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Kanu and John Utaka (both Portsmouth).