Super Eagles skipper John Obi Mikel is forty nine games away from equaling the appearance record for a Nigerian player in the Premier League currently held by Shola Ameobi, <b>allnigeriasoccer.com</b> can report. <br /><br />Since making his debut for Chelsea, the defensive midfielder has racked up 249 games in the English top-flight and is the only current active Nigerian player in the top five. <br /><br />Assuming Mikel features in the remaining 34 fixtures this term, he would have played 283 games, still lower than the top Nigerian Ameobi (298), meaning the record is not in his sight except he extends his Chelsea contract before next summer. <br /><br />Atlanta 1996 hero Nwankwo Kanu comes second on the list of Nigerians with most Premier League appearances, having played 273 games in total for Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth before hanging up his boots. <br /><br />Yakubu Aiyegbeni (252 games) is third while ex-Nigeria skipper Joseph Yobo clocks in at number five (228 games).<br /><br /><b><u>Top 20 Nigerians With Most Premier League Appearances</u></b><br /><br />1) Shola Ameobi - 298<br />2) Nwankwo Kanu - 273<br />3) Yakubu Aiyegbeni - 252<br />4) Obi Mikel - 249<br />5) Joseph Yobo - 228<br />6) Victor Anichebe - 186<br />7) Celestine Babayaro - 179<br />8) Efan Ekoku - 160<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; Victor Moses - 160<br />10) Peter Odemwingie - 129<br />11) Austin Okocha - 124<br />12) Dickson Etuhu - 111<br />13) Obafemi Martins - 92<br />14) Ade Akinbiyi - 76<br />15) John Utaka - 65<br />16) Daniel Amokachi - 43<br />17) Sone Aluko - 42<br />18) Odion Ighalo - 41<br />19) Danny Shittu - 40<br />20) Seyi Olofinjana - 37<br />&nbsp; <br />Ifeanyi Emmanuel <br /><br />Photo Credit : chelseafc.com <br />