SAMMY Ameobi has not given up hope of gate-crashing Nigeria’s World Cup squad.

The Wanderers winger pledged allegiance to the Super Eagles in 2014 despite previously representing England at Under-21s level.

Ameobi has been in good form since returning from a knee injury sustained in pre-season and has three goals from his 19 starts in the Championship.

Having previously played for Nigeria’s Under-20s in two friendlies in 2011, the 25-year-old would love to make the step up to senior level, emulating his brother Shola, who played at the 2014 World Cup finals.

Nigeria face Argentina, Croatia and Iceland in the group stages in Russia, and Ameobi hopes with regular football he is now getting at the Macron Stadium he may yet impress the international selectors and make his World Cup dream a reality.

“I want to solely represent Nigeria,” he said. “Hopefully that opportunity will come but it will only possibly happen if I play well on a weekly basis, which is what I am aiming to do here at Bolton Wanderers.

“With it being a World Cup year who knows what could happen?

“It would be great to be a part of that, but there’s a lot of hard work ahead for me if that’s even possible.

“It isn’t easy breaking into the international team. Shola did it and I can only hope to follow in his footsteps!”