Already without key midfielder duo, Vietnam-based Hughtun Hector and Orlando City’s Kevin Molino due to long-tern injuries, Soca Warriors coach Stephen Hart will now have to do without sturdy defender Carlyle Mitchell for next month's Concacaf Gold Cup.
In addition to Hector and Molino, defensive duo Robert Primus and Seon Power are also nursing injuries while midfielder Ataullah Guerra, who is with the team in Jordan for Tuesday's friendly international is uncertain as he recovers from injury as well. Yesterday, the 21-man T&T senior team arrived in Amman, Jordan after spending the night in London on Friday.
Skipper Kenwyne Jones and the rest of the team checked into the Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow following their Caribbean Airlines travel from Port of Spain on Thursday night.
There was one addition to the squad heading to Jordan as Denmark-based defender Radanfah Abu Bakr was included in the team by Hart after the T&T coach was informed while in London that English-born defender Gavin Hoyte would not be traveling with the team to Amman after requesting to be excused.
Hoyte recently signed with English League two side Barnet and has been asked by his new club to withdraw from the T&T squad for Tuesday’s international friendly and stay back in England.
With regards to the injuries Hart said, “That’s the situation as it is at the moment. We’ve been faced with some challenges but the important thing is to focus on what we have going for us at the moment and what is ahead which is a match against Jordan on Tuesday and hopefully a preparation camp next week which will lead us into our Gold Cup campaign.”
“The game against Jordan is an opportunity to have the players together in a game situation which has not been a regular occurrence for us this year. Having the squad together is always important and we’ll look to address certain things as it pertains to our preparations for the Gold Cup,” he added.
The team will be based at the Grand Hyatt in Amman and will have its first training session in the Kingdom today (Sunday). Last Friday, Jordan secured a 3-1 victory over Tajkistan in Asian 2018 World Cup qualifying action. A hat-trick by Hassan Abdel Fattah gave the visiting Jordan a much deserved win at the Respublikanskiy Stadion.