Brighton & Hove coach Chris Hughton has sent a message to Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, urging him to play defender Leon Balogun in Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations Group E final qualifying match against Seychelles and the international friendly against Egypt in Asaba, Delta State.

Balogun who is coming back from a shoulder injury and according to Hughton he needs those games to regain his match fitness.

“The good thing, particularly with the cup run, is the players that haven’t featured so much have at least had games,” Hughton said to Brighton’s official website.

“Leon Balogun, for example, is going away on international duty with Nigeria and we’re hoping he plays both matches.”

Balogun has gone the distance in seven of the last eight Super Eagles international matches; the central defender was missing from the team that played out a goalless draw with Uganda due to knock picked up after the game against South Africa.