Sierra Leone have approached Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

BBC Sport reports Sierra Leone coach Christian Cole will pick the 26-year-old for October's 2012 Nations Cup qualifier at home to South Africa.

Reo-Coker is an English-born footballer of Sierra Leonean descent and has been seeking a senior career with England.

He captained England at Under-21 level and was on stand-by for England's 2006 World Cup squad despite being uncapped.