Gernot Rohr tells KweseESPN that Ahmed Musa and Isaac Success can still make Nigeria's World Cup squad if their fortunes improve over the coming months.
The duo are in the midst of miserable campaigns at club level, having failed to make a Premier League appearance - at Leicester City or Watford respectively - since the start of the season.
Musa has started just once for the Foxes - scoring in the League Cup victory over Sheffield United - while Success was barely considered during previous Hornets boss Marco Silva's time as coach, making one brief cameo in the same competition.
The latter also endured injury problems towards the end of 2017, but despite appearing to be outside bets for the Super Eagles' World Cup 23, Rohr has insisted the duo could still make the cut if their fortunes improve before the trip to Russia.
"Everything depends on their recovery, if they re-establish themselves or not," the Nigeria coach told KweséESPN, "if they play in their clubs or not.
"It depends on their form at the moment when we make the list," he added, "and that's only in May - mid-May - that we have to produce our provisional [squad] list."
Former Nigeria first-choice Musa has struggled to make an impact at the King Power Stadium since moving from CSKA Moscow for £16 million in 2016, but salvation could be on the horizon in the form of a loan move back to his previous club.
The 25-year-old shone at the last World Cup - scoring twice against Argentina - but netted just twice in 21 top-flight outings last term.
"I will take the players who are the most in form," Rohr concluded, "and who offer the most guarantees for being able to hold their own in a World Cup."
The German coach is currently in Morocco where he is overseeing the home-based Super Eagles' encouraging African Nations Championship campaign.
Salisu Yusuf's side qualified for a semi-final showdown with Sudan after coming from behind to beat 2-1 Angola after extra time in Sunday's third quarter final.
Morocco will meet Libya, 5-3 penalty victors against Congo-Brazzaville, in the first final-four clash.