Technical adviser of the Nigerian senior national team Berti Vogts has lashed out at those clamouring for the return of former team captain Augustine 'Jay-Jay' Okocha, stating that the former Bolton player has no place in his plans.

In recent weeks, soccer analysts in the country have been calling on the former Scotland manager to extend an invitation to the retired midfield maestro, considering the unavailability of a replacement for the creative midfield position since his exit from the team.

An obviously incensed Vogts told brilafm.net that the former star was way past his prime and not fit to represent the country anymore.

He also referred to the player’s inability to secure a regular shirt in his lower division club side as a sign of the player's lack of suitability.

Vogts remarked, "He is not playing regularly with Hull City, which means he cannot even get a place in the Premier League (sic).

"If a player is not doing well with his club, and is still getting injured all the time, how can he be considered fit so close to the Nations Cup?"

In any case, such a call might have gone unheeded. Okocha had in June this year restated his decision not to come back from his Super Eagles retirement, and has since focused on his Hull career.

The twice-BBC African footballer of the year retired from international football two years ago after the African Nations Cup in Egypt, his last game for the country being the third place encounter against the Eagles of Mali.

Augustine Okocha had given 12 long years of service to the Nigerian team.