Former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton favourite will be back in the area next year - here's why

Now Yakubu Ayegbeni is set to make his return to the area next year.

The former Premier League striker has agreed take part in a charity football match at Petersfield’s Love Lane, along with the likes of former Preston and Scunthorpe forward Paul Hayes, Aldershot manager Danny Searle and actor Jason Maza.

Organised by Blues fan Chris Underwood, all proceeds will go towards Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Members of the Fratton faithful will undoubtedly relish the chance to see Yakubu in action again.

The Nigerian marksman enjoyed a superb two-and-a-half year spell at Fratton Park.

He was recruited on loan from Maccabi Haifa midway through the 2002-03 season to add firepower to Harry Redknapp’s side’s Division One title-chasing side.

Yakubu did exactly that as he plundered seven goals in 14 goals to ensure Pompey clinched the silverware and were promoted to the Premier League.

He’d move to PO4 on a permanent basis for a fee of £4m ahead of the Blues’ return to the top flight in 25 years.

Yakubu netted 19 goals in the 2003-04 season as Redknapp’s men retained their Premier League status before bagging 17 times the following campaign – including a nonchalant penalty in the 4-1 demolition derby victory over Southampton.

However, the forward would leave for Middlesbrough that summer for £7.5m after 92 outings and 43 goals.

He’d then go on to join Everton, while he had spells with the likes of Leicester, Blackburn and Reading before ending his career at Coventry in 2017.

To donate to the charity game, visit www.gofundme.com/f/great-ormand-street-children039s-hospital.