Yet another English-based player could be lining up for this country’s senior national team in the near future. Promising 20-year-old English-born midfielder Christopher Birchall of English League One club Port Vale has accepted an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to join the team in training in order for head coach Leo Beenhakker to have a look at him.
The locating of the 20-year-old Birchall was prompted by Jack Warner, special advisor to the TTFF before English agent Mike Berry got in contact with Birchall this week to finalize arrangements for him to join the team.
The 5' 9" Birchall is currently negotiating a new contract with Port Vale, the club he has been attached to since age nine.
“A pocket-battleship on the right, Chris has shown some promise coming into the side at the end of last season. His belligerent style, often compared to former Vale star Gareth Ainsworth, has already appeased the fans and Chris has given notice to be a performer to be reckoned with this term.” was what the Port Vale official website stated about Birchall.
So far this season he has six goals in 27 appearances for Vale. His last goal was in a 5-0 win over Barnsley last Saturday and the BBC described the goal the with the following words: “Birchall opened the scoring after exchanging passes with Lee Matthews and smashing home a 25-yard half-volley.”
“It’s just a real privilege to get a chance to try out with the Trinidad and Tobago National team and I am really looking forward to it. To say the truth, I was a bit nervous at first when the call came but now I’m just really anxious to get down to Trinidad and start training with the rest of the boys and hopefully be able to make a contribution to the World Cup effort,” Birchall told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Birchall’s mother, Jennifer, was born in Port of Spain before moving to England where she met the player’s English father. The Port Vale man has lived in England all his life and has never visited these shores.
“I think my mom might be even prouder than I am at the moment. I have heard of Dwight and Shaka and some of the other guys up here. I know Rougier was at Vale. I played against Carlos (Edwards) and Dennis (Lawrence) last night. And well I know Clayton (Ince) is going to take care of me when I get there. Because of the whole Trinidad Connection, it makes it even more exciting but again it’s all serious business when it comes down to the football,” Birchall added.
His travel arrangements have already been sorted out by Warner and he is expected here on May 10.
Beenhakker was briefed on his availability on Tuesday and will have him in the squad for training during next month.
”We need to have everyone and everything on board in our efforts to get to Germany and fittingly the young player will be given a chance to try out with the team and it will be left up to the coach to make the final decision,” Warner stated from London.