Chelsea midfielder of Nigerian descent Ross Barkley will not be selected for the international friendly between England and Nigeria at the National Stadium in London on June 2, Three Lions boss boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed.

The former Everton star has been struggling with a hamstring complaint since his arrival at Chelsea in the January transfer window, which has limited his appearances to just three games in all competitions.

"I think he’s just not been fit," Southgate was quoted as saying by the Mirror.

"He went to Chelsea on the back of a long-term hamstring injury, quite a serious one, and has had only had a couple of matches really.''

Southgate added : ''He’s not available for selection now anyway, so he’s unfortunate in the way that has played out in this year in particular.

"But if he can get back playing and playing regularly I’m sure, post-summer, we will look again.

"It’s going to be difficult for him I think to get the number of games he needs now for the World Cup. But we know he’s a talented player."

No player of Nigerian descent was named in England's match day squad by Terry Venables in the Three Lions' 1-0 win over Nigeria in a friendly in November 1994 and eight years later manager Sven-Göran Eriksson did not include any player of Nigerian descent on his roster for the World Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli is poised to feature against the Super Eagles on June 2, while ex-Young Lions stars Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses and Ola Aina are expected to make Nigeria's squad.

Igho Kingsley

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