Murushid Juuko raised eyebrows when he was recalled to the Uganda Cranes squad.
The defender lost his place on the team following a lengthy period on the sidelines with no club football.
Johnathan McKinstry, the Cranes head coach, however, summoned him alongside seasoned campaigners Tonny Mawejje and Denis Iguma.
The three didn't make the final squad for the double header AFCON Qualifier encounter with South Sudan but will fancy their chances for the CHAN tournament slated for early next year.
“First of all I am grateful for call up," Juuko told Express media team in an interview after McKinstry named the final squad for the matches in Kampala and Nairobi.
"The coach makes the final call and I respect that," he added.
McKinstry had earlier revealed he would not summon a player with no club to the national team and made his position known to Juuko and the rest of the clubless players.
"I know there are more games to come and I will be considered because I am working hard towards that,"
Juuko was part of the Cranes team at the last two AFCON editions and was a mainstay before his woes with Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca that saw him sit out for close to a year.
Wydad failed to meet their part of the contract and Juuko opted out and was eventually given a green light by FIFA to join Express.
The CHAN tournament should present the former Simba and SC Victoria University defender the opportunity to return to professional football beyond the Ugandan borders but for now he must impress with local side Express.
“The focus will be on CHAN for now but that depends on the performance in the league and I'm optimistic the club will do well."
The CHAN tournament attracts only local based players and Juuko must play well for his club to earn a slot in the squad for Cameroon.
January 16th 2021 is the scheduled date for the start of the tournament and the Cranes are pooled in group C alongside Morocco, Rwanda and Togo.
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The writer is a Freelance Sports Reporter based in Kampala, Uganda. Follow him on Twitter (@Emanzi20), Facebook (Ndyamuhaki J. Emanzi) and Instagram (@emanzi20).
The writer is a Freelance Sports Reporter based in Kampala, Uganda. Follow him on Twitter (@Emanzi20), Facebook (Ndyamuhaki J. Emanzi) and Instagram (@emanzi20).