Victor Anichebe wants to recover quickly and score more goals

Nigeria and Everton striker Victor Anichebe says he hopes to be fit to play for his club this weekend.

The 19-year-old made his first ever appearance in a Nigerian shirt last week, helping them reach the Olympics with a 3-0 win over South Africa.

But he had to be hospitalised on his return, because of an unidentified illness.

Now the player has told the Everton website that he is hopeful of playing against Derby County on Sunday.

"I still feel quite weak because I have only just started eating," he told Evertonfc.com.

"But hopefully I can get my strength back in time for the weekend."

Anichebe was forced to miss the Merseyside derby with Liverpool because of his illness.

"I came back from Nigeria on a high, but could feel myself getting a little ill," he was quoted as saying.

David Moyes would love to see Victor Anichebe back

"So then I had to go into hospital and I was in there all night on a drip.

"It was a bad experience and I never want to go to hospital again," he said.

Anichebe scored in the win over South Africa in Abuja, to give Nigeria's "Dream Team" the last available qualifying spot for the Beijing Olympics.

Everton are missing several key players through injury as the season comes to an end, and manager David Moyes is keen to have Anichebe fit and available for the run-in.

Everton lie fifth in the table, five points behind their great rivals Liverpool, with six games to go.

They still have to play both Chelsea and Arsenal.