Dwight Yorke is back and among six additional members of Trinidad and Tobago's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad that have been included in the current national football team's roster for the upcoming semi-final round of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The list of recalled Soca Warriors is headed by World Cup captain Yorke, who, after requesting a meeting with T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) special advisor Jack Warner on Monday, made himself available for national team selection, and is set to return for the qualifying campaign.
Also recalled are Coventry City midfielder Christopher Birchall, Wrexham midfielder Silvio Spann, Clico San Juan Jabloteh right defender Cyd Gray, Miami FC left defender Avery John and Kansas City Wizards forward Scott Sealy.
Contacted by the Express yesterday, Spann was pleasantly surprised.
"I did not know....but, God works in mysterious ways. It is always an honour to represent my country and every time I am given the opportunity to play, I give my all...I guess that's why I sometimes get injured in the process."
Gray was pleased, but is still recovering from a broken leg.
"Well, I am quite pleased to be considered again, but there is still some doubt because of the injury I sustained," Gray confessed. "Right now I have just started back to play for about half hour. I have been doing therapy for the past three months, but basically now I am just working on match fitness and I do not want to get back into it too early."
In a T&TFF release, yesterday, team manager David Muhammad said the newly recalled players could be back in T&T colours as early as this month when T&T face Netherlands Antilles in a friendly international, tentatively set for July 17 here in T&T.
"I have communicated with each of these players who all expressed their absolute zeal to represent Trinidad and Tobago on the football field once again. We are very confident that this enthusiasm will add an element of renewed excitement in the team as well as with the public.
"We are also hoping to include each of these nationals in our squads for at least one or more of the upcoming friendly international matches within the next few weeks before the August 20 qualification fixture away to Cuba."
Warner, who announced that he is seeking to have Digicel sponsor a friendly international against Haiti in early August, continues to have faith in coach Francisco Maturana.
"Whichever players the coach wants he will get but I will not pick players for him nor impose any players on him. It is expected that he will come under fire. When you try out and you build and you try different permutations you come under fire.
The only time a coach doesn't come under fire is when he wins or qualifies. I am sure that Maturana, with his experience, is used to this and therefore I am not worried. Absolutely I will continue to keep faith in him."