It may be a distant dream but Frank Nouble is clinging to the hope that he can be Town’s only player at next summer’s World Cup to be hosted by Brazil.

The 22-year-old striker represented England in his teens but is eligible to play for the Ivory Coast, who have booked their place in the 2014 jamboree and will play Colombia, Greece and Japan in Group C.

Nouble said: “I’m quite lucky because the Ivory Coast football people are very close to my family and my extended family. I’m still friends with Salomon Kalou [ex-Chelsea, now with Lille] so I still integrate with them.

“I’ve already been training with the national team about two and a half years ago, but I chose to play for the England U19s. I’m still eligible for the Ivory Coast and if my chance comes I will go.

“If I’m playing — and scoring — regularly for Ipswich I believe the chance will come. The next generation of players for the Ivory Coast has got to come through. Drogba, the Toure brothers, Gervinho, they’re all getting older and Brazil will be their last major tournament.

In action for England's U19s

“Can I get on the plane to Brazil? Anything can happen. Jordan Rhodes hit a rich vein of form and now he’s playing for Scotland. It’s all about me and my form. If I’m doing well I’m sure that call-up won’t be far away.”

Nouble admitted that rarely a day goes by without him dreaming of taking part in the biggest tournament of them all, if not in Brazil next year then at a future event.

He added: “The thought of playing in the World Cup is always in my mind. I really want to do it, for me and for my parents to make them proud. They were both born in the Ivory Coast and they came over here and had me.

“I was born in Peckham. It would make me happy because I have a lot of aunts, uncles and cousins, and in my community there are a lot of Ivorians who speak French at home. I grew up in a French-speaking house so I didn’t need to learn it in school.

“Freddie Veseli and I speak French all the time on the training ground. We’re lucky because we can talk about anything we want and nobody else knows what we are saying!”

Photo: Action Images

bigolconnor added 07:21 - Dec 7 I thought that he meant for England. I was going to pull my eyes out. But the Ivory Coast... fair enough. If he can scare a couple of goals in today the he may need to book a flight.
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allezlesbleus added 09:21 - Dec 7 Allez Frank!
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BrightBlue added 09:38 - Dec 7 jouer votre meilleur pour Ipswich et votre rêve se réalisera.
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John_Portman added 09:42 - Dec 7 to be completely honest Franky...Ivory Coast are a good team. And Jordan Rhodes has been banging them consistently for 2 years not to forget Ivory Coast are way ahead of Scotland, and Im scottish.
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bluemikey100 added 09:55 - Dec 7 score the goals for town get mick phone national manager and u be on the plane frank happy days
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mikeybloo88 added 10:22 - Dec 7 Hmmm...tough one for the Ivory Coast manager...which forwards should I take ...Drogba, Gervinho, Bony, Kalou...or Nouble
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tractordownsouth added 10:37 - Dec 7 Getting too big for his boots, only scored twice
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irishtim added 11:05 - Dec 7 Score 20 from now till the end of season Frank and your dream should come true.
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Kentish_Tractor added 11:13 - Dec 7 Frank hasn't actually scored a goal yet without an absolute gift from the opposition keeper (including Blackpool, beaten way too easily at near post). The only time he will ever play in a World Cup is 'in his dreams'. Blimey, if he ever gets 2 in a game he'll be on the phone to Madrid. But keep dreaming Frank and keep working hard and the Town fans will stick by you.

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yorksblue added 11:56 - Dec 7 Talking French eh! That'll explain an awful lot re: performances to date
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Sindre94 added 12:30 - Dec 7 They also have Doumbia, Traore and Sio. Cant see this happening, although I rate frank
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Sindre94 added 12:35 - Dec 7 aaand also Arouna Kone.
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Stewart27 added 13:01 - Dec 7 Bigolconnor The Ivory Coast are better than England. Nouble is arguably the worse striker in the championship. It ain't gonna happen.
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iTFC4LiFE99 added 13:27 - Dec 7 I wouldn't get your hopes up frank, dear lord :L not quite international standered
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rexron added 14:14 - Dec 7 Nice to see a young player with ambitions :-) Wont make it without.
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Brad_C_ITFC added 14:24 - Dec 7 Doumbia, Kone, Traore, Bony, Kalou.. If he played at their level then promotion would be a doddle !
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Michael11 added 14:41 - Dec 7 Hahahahahahahahahaha Drogba, Kalou, Doumbia, Traore etc must be shaking in fear.
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alljezer added 18:40 - Dec 7 LOL, Two hopes, Bob and No. Your a clown
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Shotleytractor added 22:09 - Dec 7 Nothings wrong with abit of ambition.
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