RICKY Shakes could be facing a club versus country dilemma after being named in Trinidad and Tobago’s under 21 squad for two tournament qualifying matches.
Manager Iffy Onuora is awaiting confirmation of the midfielder’s call-up but his initial reaction is ‘cool’ to say the least.
And the player himself, admits it could be a tricky situation.
Shakes made his senior bow in last month’s 2-0 victory over Iceland at Loftus Road, much to the delight of everyone at the club, but he has now been included in a 23-man squad for qualifying matches ahead of the Central America and Caribbean Games (CAC).
Trinidad and Tobago’s under 21s face Dominica on March 31 and then Haiti on April 4, both matches taking place in Trinidad.
That would almost certainly prevent Shakes taking part in the match with Hartlepool United on April 8 and possibly the clash at Swansea City should it be rearranged in the week following the original scheduled date (April 1).
As it stands, Shakes is the only English-based player to be included in Ron La Forest’s squad for CAC qualifiers.
His club manager, who took in Colchester United’s LDV Vans clash with Swansea City last night, will wait for the official documentation to land but on having the news broken to him, said: “My initial reaction is that it’s hardly great timing but I’ll address the situation as and when I have all the details.
“There’s also a little bit of bemusement in why he would be playing for the under 21s after they’ve seen him in the senior side?”
Not that the Town boss was the only one saying ‘that’s news to me’.
Shakes himself was unaware that his name was on the list posted on the Soca Warriors’ official website.
He said: “I haven’t heard anything about this but I suppose they (Trinidad and Tobago) see it as another opportunity to look at me, I don’t know.”