World Cup 2014: Player profile - Victor Obinna, the Nigeria striker

Counting down the 100 players to look out for in Brazil this summer

Victor Obinna (right) in action for Lokomotiv Moscow (GETTY IMAGES)

The World Cup in Brazil is coming into view and everyone is hoping this summer's carnival can take its place among some of the great tournaments of the past, but who will be the star of the show?

With 78 days to go until things kick-off, check out our latest instalment of 100 players to look out for at the competition below.

78. Victor Obinna (Nigeria)

Obinna will be familiar to the Upton Park faithful at West Ham after he spent a year on loan in east London in 2010. The Nigerian forward has a long history of playing European football in the top divisions of Italy, Spain, England and Russia. His professional career started at Italian side Chievo – where he’s now currently on loan from current club Lokomotiv Moscow – and he was an instant hit with the Italians. In three years he bagged 19 goals, earning him a move to Inter Milan 2011.

Jose Mourinho described the 26-year-old as one of the best prospects in Inter’s immediate future, but he was shipped out on loan to Malaga after limited first-team opportunities came his way at the San Siro. After a relatively successful but slightly unfulfilling year in Spain, West Ham acquired his services in similar circumstances although the prospect of a permanent move was flaunted if he proved himself in the Premier League.

Despite making 25 appearances, though, he only found the back of the net three times. He returned to parent club Inter but after they agreed a deal with Moscow, he headed to Russia. Again, he failed to rediscover the goal-scoring form of his younger years and is now back at first club Chievo on loan (yet again) – with hopes of making the Nigerian World Cup squad his number one priority. His international career has yielded 11 goals to date, a number he’ll need to extend in Brazil to help the African nation progress to the last 16.

Did you know? Obinna scored the goal that effectively sealed his countries place at Brazil 2014