Samuel says Cup of Nations participation is out of his hands

The decision over whether Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o represents Cameroon at the African Nations Cup is 'out of his hands', the player has said.

"I will play where they tell me to. I am not the boss," Eto'o said in an interview with a Spanish newspaper.

"I can't do anything. I understand the club's worries but I also understand my country's concerns."

"They have to sort it out between them. Txiki [Begiristain, Barcelona's sports director] has to speak to the Cameroon Football Federation."

Earlier this week, Begiristain said he had asked Eto'o and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure to skip the tournament which runs from 20 January to 10 February in Ghana.

Eto'o, the three-times African Player of the Year, has been sidelined since the beginning of September after undergoing surgery on his right thigh.

He missed more than four months of last season after needing surgery for a knee injury to the same leg.

He refused to set a date for when he hoped to return to action.

Doctors have said they expect Eto'o to be out for at least two months.

"I need to take it little by little because the most important thing is that I return to help the side win," he said.

"I don't want to come back and be a burden."