Trinidad and Tobago have called up ten overseas-based players for the November 19th FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Cuba at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. And in that list spearheaded by captain Dwight Yorke are two new call ups – Welsh-based winger Josh Johnson and English-born goalkeeper Anthony Warner.
The 27-year-old Johnson (formerly of CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and is former T&T Under 23 and Under 20 player) is currently attached to Welsh club Rhyl FC campaigning in the Conference League. He copped the Welsh “Player of the month” award a couple months ago.
The 34-year-old Warner, who has one appearance for T&T in the2-0 win over Iceland in February 2006, is a reserve goalkeeper for English Premiership club Hull City, a club he joined after being released by Fulham in May, Among the past club’s on Warner’s profile are Liverpool, Norwich City, Celtic, Leeds United and Barnsley, where he spent some time on loan before moving to Hull.
The other players invited for the encounter with Cuba include Falkirk’s Russell Latapy, Carlos Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Chris Birchall (Coventry City), Clayton Ince (Walsall), Stern John (Bristol City), Jason Scotland (Swansea City), Dennis Lawrence (Swansea City) and Yorke.
“We will treat the Cuba game with every bit of respect it deserves which means that we will take nothing for granted,” Maturana told TTFF Media. “We have to gain momentum and this means to try to use our best team possible at all times once we have the possibility to get the players. And the squad is open to players at every time. We will look at players and hope to come up with best group of players.”
The full T&T squad will assemble around November 14 with a live in training camp at the Crowne Plaza along with sessions at the match venue. Kick off time on November 19 is 9pm.