According to the Gambia Football Federation, Carayol is not the only bigwig lined for duty for The Gambia. Others include Modou Secka Barrow playing at Swansea.
Speaking to the BBC Mustapha Carayol says it is the “right time” in his career to commit his international future to The Gambia.
The Gambian, 26, is back to full fitness after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury which had kept him out for 13 months.
Last month, he signed a two-year extension to his contract at Middlesbrough, having been on loan at Brighton, and he says he is now focused on establishing himself as an international with The Gambia.
“I’ve got quite a lot of support there already and I’ve not even played. So, hopefully I can live up to the hype when I do play and make a lot of people happy.”
“I think it has been a long time coming, I’ve had a few times when they’ve invited me but it wasn’t the right time for myself and my family,” Carayol told BBC Africa Sport.
Carayol, who was born in Banjul, is targeting an appearance for the Scorpions in the forthcoming qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Obviously I’ve spoken to them. I’m looking forward to the official invite and look forward to representing The Gambia in the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.
“All my family’s Gambian, so everyone’s excited and I’m going to have a lot of pressure when I do get the chance to play.
“But for me, it’s the experience of a professional footballer to go and represent your country. I’ve got quite a lot of support there already and I’ve not even played so hopefully I can live up to the hype when I do play and make a lot of people happy.”
The Gambia has been drawn in Group M of the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers, along with South Africa, Cameroon and Mauritania. BBC
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