Trinidad and Tobago head coach Russell Latapy is trying to have his strongest available squad for the 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals by inviting six additional players to join the Soca Warriors line-up.
Of those, San Jose Earthquakes striker Cornell Glen, Joe Public midfielder Hayden Tinto and ex-English-based utility player Silvio Spann have taken up the offer to join the 20 locally-based players already in training.
But LA Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall has not yet confirmed his availability, having been invited to the national squad for the Caribbean Cup later this month, while European-based duo Khaleem Hyland and Darryl Roberts are definitely unavailable.
Birchall's LA Galaxy play Dallas in the MLS semi-finals today for the right to contest the final on November 21 in Toronto.
The Warriors leave on Tuesday November 23 for the Caribbean Cup, which takes place in Martinique from November 26-December 5.
T&T will open the tournament on November 26, against either Antigua and Barbuda or Cuba. They then face hosts Martinique on November 28 and Grenada on November 30.
The four semi-finalists will qualify for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while the two finalists will battle on December 5 for a first prize of US$120,000.
"It appears that Chris Birchall may not be available, but we are not yet counting him out as of now," team manager David Muhammad told Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) media officer Shaun Fuentes yesterday.
"And Khaleem and Darryl have indicated to us that they are definitely not available as their seasons are in full swing and the tournament does not fall within the FIFA calendar.
"But we are confident in the ability of the current squad of players. We saw for ourselves that they are capable of producing the goods and delivering results as was the case in the recent three matches (against Haiti, Guyana and St Vincent and the Grenadines).
"The final 20-man T&T squad for the tournament will be announced next week prior to the team's departure for Martinique," Muhammad added.
Latapy's current squad includes the 20 players who finished unbeaten by bettering St Vincent (6-2), Guyana (2-1) and Haiti (4-0) to win the win the Digicel Cup Group F qualifying series a week ago at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Trinidad and Tobago's senior team will begin their final leg of preparations with a 4 p.m. training session tomorrow at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The likes of Jovin Jones, Lester Peltier and Clyde Leon, who were carrying injuries in the latter part of Group F action, are on the road to full recovery in time for the upcoming matches in Martinique.
Today, Latapy will be monitoring closely the encounter between Antigua/Barbuda and Cuba as the result is likely to determine T&T's opponents in their opening match of the tournament on November 26.
Both Cuba and Antigua/Barbuda are locked on four points each after their two Group G games to date.
In related news, Digicel currently have Sunderland academy coaches in Antigua and Barbuda conducting coaching clinics and taking in the Digicel Cup action. And Sunderland Academy assistant manager Kevin Ball coach lamented the fact that Caribbean players are finding it hard to become seasoned Premier League players and as such should T&T duo Dwight Yorke and Kenwyne Jones should be emulated by regional players.
"Any player in the region could always look up to the likes of Kenwyne (Jones), who I have worked with at the club, to say to themselves that if Kenwyne can do it I can do it. We had Dwight Yorke at the club as well and he is a fantastic ambassador for football in general,’ said Ball.
Ball pointed out. "One thing that we have noticed over the days is how much they (the youngsters and coaches) want to become good footballers and become good coaches. They are prepared to listen and to learn from other persons, which is vitally important."