Trinidad and Tobago forward Joel Bailey wants to do more for his country.
So too so many others right? But for Bailey it’s a bit different having tasted a bit of what it feels like to wear the national shirt during the 2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup in Port of Spain.
The former Naparima College standout is currently with Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL First Division and has been making regular appearances for the club, most off the bench. But his injury troubles continued a few days back as he sustained yet another setback and could be out for a couple weeks or more.
“The season’s been going all right. We are at the top of the USL Division one table and I’m enjoying it,” he told TTFF Media on Thursday.
“But I have picked up yet another injury…. Believe it or not,” he said. The tactful striker also battled injury during the Digicel series before managing to come off the bench in the closing couple of games, leaving a good impression nonetheless.
“It’s a ‘disc bulge to be more precise and I might be out for a bit. But before the injury I was playing regularly and my form's been decent whether as a starter or off the bench. I haven’t been playing forward though… probably got in 2 games playing up top. I have actually been playing more as an outside left and right midfielder with the team,” Bailey revealed.
He’s versatility though allows him to settle in so far in the new role though it’s been a test.
“It’s a new position for me and to be honest it hasn’t been easy. I still haven’t really found my feet or quite grasped how to be as effective and efficient in that position yet. But at the moment that’s where the coach prefers playing me in his system and so that’s what I’m doing.”
Bailey didn’t hide the fact that he wanted to do more in the regional cup and hopes that head coach Wim Rijsbergen can keep him in mind for T&T’s future fixtures.
“The Digicel Cup was definitely a positive personal experience for me but if I were to be honest, I would have to say I was a bit disappointed at the end mainly because I felt like we went through the tournament and I wasn’t fully able to show the country, the coaches and even the guys on the team what I can really do because I wasn’t healthy or able to stay healthy for an extended period.
“Even after the tournament when we went over to Costa Rica and Panama, I was a bit injured and struggling. It was a constant fight to survive and push through.”
He appreciates being given the opportunity to don the national shirt, knowing too that international appearances are always a bonus.
“I knew the caps were a good thing to have and the experience was good but it was mentally very tough mainly because at best I was always only able to show flashes in practice and literally almost nothing in the games. The consistency in my level of play was very poor I must say and it was very frustrating.
“Hopefully I can shake the injury bug soon and stay healthy for an extended period. Hopefully I can get another chance with the national team and then be able to deliver a full package,” Bailey wished.
He came off the bench in the last couple of games for the Whitecaps, in a 0-0 draw with Carolina Railhawks and then a 2-0 loss to Charleston Battery last week. Tobago-born goalkeeper Richard Goddard is another T&T player attached to Whitecaps this season.