LAGOS. Everton striker Victor Anichebe has put his international career with Nigeria on hold so he can “manage his body accordingly”.Lagos-born Anichebe, 25, has told BBC Sport that for the time being, he does not want to be considered for Nigeria.He had been tipped for a return to the Nigeria squad for June’s World Cup qualifiers and Confederations Cup, replacing the injured Emmanuel Emenike. “The best thing for me at the moment is to focus on club football,” he said.Anichebe has been plagued by injuries over the past few years, including a groin problem on his last appearance for Nigeria in a 2-0 win over Madagascar in 2011.He insists he is proud to play for his country, but for the moment his Premier League side Everton are his priority.“Without club football there is no international football and everyone at Everton was with me every step of the way during my injuries and rehabilitation and so I owe it to the club to manage myself correctly,” he explained.“I didn’t feel that the Nigerian federation was there for me then in the same manner, which was especially disappointing given that I got the injury representing my country.A former England youth international, Anichebe switched allegiance and played his first game for Nigeria in March 2008.
