DUNDEE BOSS Jim Duffy has branded the preferential treatment given to English club Portsmouth by the Trinidad and Tobago FA as a “disgrace.”
The Dark Blues have had to wave goodbye to defender Brent Sancho yet again this week as he has been called up for his country’s home World Cup qualifier against St Vincent and the Grenadines tomorrow.
However, Pompey goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has been excused duty by the Soca Warriors ahead of his club’s game against Manchester City at Fratton Park on Saturday.
What Duffy has branded “selective selection” means not only will Dundee face an anxious wait to see if Sancho returns in time for their game against Hibs, there will be a similar situation at Ibrox ahead of the Old Firm game as Rangers centre-half Marvin Andrews has also had to travel.
“Brent has played nearly every game for us when he has been available and is a very important part of our team,” said Duffy.
“You can have selective selection and it is not fair if a Portsmouth player can be excused just because they are in the English Premiership.
“There may be mitigating circumstances we don’t know about but if this is preferential treatment then it is a disgrace.”
At least Sancho should be spared a return trip next week, when the Trinidadians play Puerto Rico in eight days’ time.
That game marks the start of the Digicel Cup to decide the champions of the Caribbean but, as the tournament is not on FIFA’s official calendar, European clubs are not obliged to release their players.
Sancho’s fellow defender Jonay Hernandez is also absent from training this week as he is with Venezuela building up to their World Cup game against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Dundee striker Steve Lovell is nursing a back injury and could be sidelined for a couple of days.