Nigeria manager has faith in Kanu

Nigeria's new coach Adegboye Onigbinde says Nwankwo Kanu does not need to leave Arsenal for the sake of his international career.

The Arsenal striker was heavily criticised for his performance against Juventus last week and was dropped to the bench for Saturday's FA Cup victory over Newcastle.

The 25-year-old hasn't scored a Premiership goal since October and is still being linked with a move away from Highbury - but he will play for Nigeria against Paraguay at QPR's Loftus Road tonight.

Onigbinde said: "Every day is not Christmas. Kanu is a human being. Sometimes you are high and sometimes you are low, it is the same for everybody. Of course, it is normal when you don't perform well for people to say so, but Kanu is strong. If you go back to what he has gone through then you will be quick in coming to the conclusion that his mental attitude is of a very high level.

"I know he has had to come from the bench and doesn't play the full 90 minutes very often but that is down to his coach, and Arsene Wenger must have his reasons. Some people say it is a worry for Nigeria, but why do I want to worry about it? I am not the Arsenal manager. I certainly won't tell Kanu to leave Arsenal in order to get first-team football - I would see that as putting a player under undue pressure. After all, the club has not sacked him or transferred him.

"For one reason or another he is not being used, but at least he is training with the team and coming on from the bench.