Former Kaizer Chiefs midfield sensation Jabu Pule, who is now based in Austria, will make a return to the national team when Bafana Bafana play against Nigeria in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at Ellis Park next Wednesday.

Pule was included in the 21-man squad announced by coach Stuart Baxter in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The Bafana coach also included clubless defender Mbulelo Mabizela.

The former Pirates skipper parted ways with English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur on mutual agreement almost three weeks ago.

He then trained with Premiership side Fulham but his dream of securing a contract with another English club was shattered when he was told to stop training, as “he was overweight”.

Baxter has already indicated he would call up Mabizela to assess him but the inclusion of Chiefs central defender Sphiwe Mkhonza is indication that Mabizela might not play a part against Nigeria.

Even in midfield, Mabizela might not have a place after Baxter had called up seven talented midfielders. Quinton Fortune has played a defensive role for his English club Manchester United and should the need arise, he could be tasked to perform the same duty against the Super Eagles.

In attack, Baxter has gone for experience in Portugal based Benni McCarthy, who scored his seventh league goal on Monday when defending champions Porto beat rivals Sporting 3-0 on Monday.

Shaun Bartlett has also rediscovered his goal scoring touch with a brace in the 3-2 win against Spurs over the weekend. However, the Cape Town-born star almost spoiled his moment when he was sent off for a deliberate handball.

Italy-based Siyabonga Nomvete has recently struggled to find the net for Bafana but this could be just the occasion for him to re-launch his international career. The relatively unknown Katleho Mphela, who plays for Racing Club de Strasbourg in France, completes the attack.

SuperSport United keeper Calvin Marlin also earned the recognition when he was named as one of the three goalkeepers.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Kaizer Chiefs), Calvin Marlin

(SuperSport United), Hans Vonk (Ajax Amsterdam)

Defenders: Bradley Carnell (VfB Stuttgart), Mbulelo Mabizela

(unattached), Siphiwe Mkhonza (Kaizer Chiefs), Aaron Mokoena

(Racing Genk), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos), Cyril Nzama

(Kaizer Chiefs), Thabiso Rammile (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Midfielders: Delron Buckley (Arminia Bielefeld), Quinton

Fortune (Manchester United), Gift Leremi (Orlando Pirates),

Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam), Jabu Pule (SV Mattersburg),

Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates), Sibusiso Zuma (FC

Copenhagen)

Forwards: Shaun Bartlett (Charlton Athletic), Benedict

McCarthy (FC Porto), Katlego Mphela (Racing Strasbourg),

Siyabonga Nomvete (Empoli)