Nery or no Nery: Will Castillo go to South Africa?

San Luis Potosi born striker Nery Castillo is working with a personal trainer in Ukraine in a bid to make the Mexico squad for South Africa after being hospitalised recently with pneumonia.

Castillo registered himself on the world football radar after an excellent performance at the Copa America 2007, where he scored 4 goals.

Since then, Castillo's career has been a letdown, especially considering he was Mexico's great striking hope.

Immediately after Copa America 2007, Castillo signed for Shakhtar Donetsk for around 15 million pounds/20 million dollars, but rarely played.

When Sven Goran Eriksson came knocking in his role as Manchester City boss, Castillo jumped at the chance to play in England, but he got few opportunities.

Castillo now finds himself stranded at Ukrainian team FC Dnipro, where he has recently suffered from pneumonia and is at odds with the management. He's failed to even make the bench in the club's last 11 games.

In his private life there has been tragedy to add to professional disappointment. Castillo's mother passed away in January 2009 and then his father in December of the same year, both from cancer.

There remains a chink of light though for the player that could've played for Uruguay (residence), Italy (grandparents on mother's side), Greece (residence) or Mexico (birthplace). Castillo is still highly respected in Mexico and veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco has called for his inclusion in the squad. Also, fellow striker Miguel Sabah has this week been ruled out after injuring his right leg, meaning there is a place for an extra forward in the squad.

Come Monday, when the European based recruits will be made known, Castillo will be hoping that manager Javier Aguirre gives him the green light to end his Ukrainian nightmare and get his career back on track with el Tri.

Finally, an apology for the title of the post. I couldn't help myself.