Profile

Although he has never completely disappeared off the international radar, Marius Niculae's appearances for Romania have been rare in recent years. A regular for his country at the start of the decade, the gifted but injury-cursed 27-year-old striker has been given another opportunity after a restorative season in Scotland with Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC.

Enjoyed teenage success with FC Dinamo Bucureşti; notched 12 league goals and scored a penalty in cup final during Dinamo's 1999/00 double-winning campaign.

Scored on international debut – v Latvia – in February 2000 and hit four goals in 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Romanian league's top scorer – with 20 goals – in 2000/01; two more in cup final as Dinamo retained trophy with 4-2 win over AS Rocar Bucureşti.

Joined Sporting Clube de Portugal in 2001, scored on league debut (in 1-0 win v FC Porto) and won domestic double.

Besieged by injuries over four-year spell at Sporting, which ended with substitute appearance in 2005 UEFA Cup final defeat by PFC CSKA Moskva.

Had stays with R. Standard de Liège and 1. FSV Mainz 05 before moving to Inverness; scored ten goals in 2007/08.

No UEFA EURO 2008 appearances but scored and made a goal on recall in March friendly v Russia (3-0).

Did you know?

Niculae's father is Constantin Niculae, a former medal-winner at national and European level in judo.