Stoke City midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has expressed disappointment for his failure to come up against his international teammate Semi Ajayi when West Bromwich Albion face Stoke City in the Championship on Monday.

Etebo will be missing the tie due to the injury he suffered in his team 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday two weeks ago.

However, the 23-year old has faced Ajayi twice in the past when the Potters battled his former club, Rotherham United.

“He is always very hardworking in training when we are in camp,” Etebo said.

“I would say that 95 percent of the time, we are almost always on the same side in training and I can see how much work he is doing.

“The few times that we play against each other, we win almost the same number of interceptions and tackles. So I would say that there is not much difference between us.”

“I would have loved to play against him this week.

“We played against each other twice when he was at Rotherham and it was a draw. I am disappointed not to be able to face him in his new club.”

“This time, I will be there as a fan supporting my team and I wish him well and hope he has a good game, but I am sure why team will win, so he will go home disappointed with the result but I hope he plays well,” he concluded

Semi Ajayi is part of the latest 23-man list released by Gernot Rohr for the upcoming AFCON 2021 qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho while Etebo is among the three players placed on stand-by the Super Eagles gaffer.