Ikechukwu Uche back in La Liga asVillarreal earns promotion to Spain's 1st division

Nigeria international Ike Uche has returned to play in the Spanish top flight with Villarreal.

The club beat Almeria 1-0 on Sunday to record 74 points and finish second behind second division champions Elche to make an instant return to La Liga after they were relegated the previous season.

Uche scored 14 goals to finish as his club’s top scorer in their successful campaign to return to the top flight.

The 29-year-old striker has played in La Liga with Zaragoza, Getafe and Granada, where he was on loan from Villarreal.

Almeria, who parade former Nigeria U20 skipper Ramon Azeez, and Las Palmas, who have Macauley Chrisantus, will play off for the final promotion slot from the Spanish Segunda Division.