Trinidad and Tobago coach Bertille St Clair will finalise his squad early next week for upcoming 2006 semi-final round World Cup qualifiers against St Kitts/Nevis and Mexico.
St Clair will hold another training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 5.30 p.m. tomorrow and is expected to have his compliment of overseas-based players which he finalised this weekend.
They include recalled English-born defender Ian Cox of First Division side Gillingham and Premiership goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.
The experienced duo are among 11 overseas-based players called up for the back-to-back matches. Among the others are Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Falkirk midfielder Brent Rahim, Peterborough midfielder Andre Boucaud, Southampton's Kenwyne Jones, Dundee's Brent Sancho, Anthony Rougier, who recently signed with Chinese club Nanjing FC, New York/New Jersey Metrostars striker Cornell Glen, Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence and Birmingham City striker Stern John, who goes into action against Ipswich Town today and is scheduled to arrive in Trinidad tomorrow.
St Clair this week made it clear that his players must rightfully earn selection and will be keeping a close eye before picking his locally-based pros. Some of the regulars during the campaign to date include Joe Public defenders Marlon Rojas and Derek King, W Connection midfielder Silvio Spann, San Juan Jabloteh midfielder and national team captain Angus Eve, Michael Celestine and Kerry Baptiste, goalkeeper Duarance Williams and Arima/Morvant Fire midfielder Densil Theobald.
With just John and Glen as the strikers on the list of overseas-based players, St Clair will look to local talent for his other attacking options, with there being no room for playmaker Arnold Dwarika and strikers Errol McFarlane and Jason Scotland.
Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) technical director Lincoln "Tiger" Phillips said a victory will obviously be the order of the day against St Kitts/Nevis-on Sunday at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium from 3.30 p.m.-and he also credited the return of Hislop to the squad.
"Having Shaka back is a huge plus for us because he brings tremendous value both to what we have in store already. Over the past few months, we have worked feverishly to form a well-rounded team and we are still working at getting it right. And now having Shaka around can surely be a help in getting us there," Phillips told T&TFF media officer Shaun Fuentes yesterday.
"Not only he is a high quality goalkeeper but I think as an individual he is a leader both on and off the field and he has the ability to give us a lot more than just our man between the sticks.
"Now looking ahead to the next two games, we realise we have a chance to go a step closer to the final round once we can get a win against St Kitts/Nevis. Last time we needed a last-minute goal to beat them on their home field but come this time, we are the ones at home and we must take full advantage of this.
Not only do we want to win but we also want to raise our game and set the pace for the rest of matches to follow. I think, too, that the fans will obviously be looking forward to a good victory following the loss to Mexico. Then we face the task of playing Mexico in Mexico, which as we all know is by no means an easy one. That's a different picture there but it gives us a chance to get an idea of how we must take that approach for the more important clashes we may have with them in the final stage of the competition," Phillips added.
He also commented on St Clair's recent statements about players needing to earn their spots in the team.
"I think the fact that players have to fight for their places augurs well for us. We need the professional teams to be successful and based on what I saw in the FCB Cup final between Defence Force and W Connection (on Friday night), I thought it was a game of good quality and obviously there are players out there knocking on the doors and getting better which, while it may make selection somewhat harder, it definitely gives us extra options and all this goes towards getting the best team to represent Trinidad and Tobago," said the former national goalie.