Nigeria and Everton striker Victor Anichebe says he hopes to be fit to play for his club this weekend.

Nigeria and Everton striker Victor Anichebe says he hopes to be fit to play for his club this weekend.

The 19-year-old made his first ever appearance in a Nigerian shirt last week, helping them reach the Olympics with a 3-0 win over South Africa.

But he had to be hospitalised on his return because of an unidentified illness.

Now the player has told the Everton website that he is hopeful of playing against Derby County on Sunday.

"I still feel quite weak because I have only just started eating," he told Evertonfc.com.

"But hopefully I can get my strength back in time for the weekend."

Anichebe was forced to miss the Merseyside derby with Liverpool because of his illness.

"I came back from Nigeria on a high, but could feel myself getting a little ill," he was quoted as saying.

David Moyes would love to see Anichebe back.

"I tried to sleep it off, but I couldn't eat because it was so bad.

"So then I had to go into hospital and I was in there all night on a drip." - BBC