Southampton ready to plan Aribo return as midfielder departs for AFCON

The 27 year old is set to add to his 23 caps when they compete in the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations later this month. 

Aribo has been named in a talented 25-man squad alongside the likes of Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and more.

The Super Eagles are in a group alongside Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau and will look to reach the knockout rounds of the competition. 

Aribo has been pictured on a flight with teammates Bassey, Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Ola Aina ahead of the first fixture on Sunday, January 14. 

Joe Aribo and his Nigeria teammates depart for international duty (Image: Calvin Bassey)

Martin told the Daily Echo: "He will be busy with a lot of travelling but he loves playing for Nigeria so he goes with everyone's best wishes.

"We will lose him and we will miss him because he has been fantastic, he has been so good. We will have to wait and see and it depends on how far they go in the tournament as well. 

"We have prepared for every permutation with flights booked for every scenario so we will just have to wait and see."

Aribo will miss Championship fixtures versus Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City, which could see the club set their record for longest league unbeaten run. 

He could be available to face Hull City on January 27 but will also miss that St Mary's fixture if Nigeria progress to the round of 16 as expected.

Aribo could then miss games against Rotherham on February 3 and Huddersfield on February 10 if Nigeria reach the quarter-final and semi-final.