Chris Birchall fancies a recall.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Coventry City midfielder Chris Birchall is refusing to take his sights off a recall to the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team as it continues preparations for the start of its 2010 World Cup qualification drive in June.
Birchall, back from a hamstring injury, made a 75th minute appearance but with his team down to ten men and already trailing 3-0, there was little the 2006 World Cup team player could do to prevent the 5-0 whipping from West Brom before 28,163 fans on Saturday.
Birchall’s return to action will come as welcome news for T&T head coach Francisco Maturana who begins training with a newly selected squad this morning at the Ato Boldon Stadium and has indicated his willingness to have some of the old names in his preparations.
Midfielder Aurtis Whitley has been recalled and a call up for defender Cyd Gray is on the cards and Marvin Andrews (who contrary to other reports, never announced his retirement from international football) is also being looked at.
Maturana also inquired about Birchall soon after he joined the staff in Puerto Rico but at the time the player was nursing a hamstring problem. Birchall definitely wants to be involved.
“It’s good to be back playing but I don’t want to be left disappointed for not making the Trinidad team again. I will work for that recall and hopefully by keeping injury free and getting good minutes at Coventry will help me,” Birchall told TTFF Media.
“I don’t think I have to prove myself to be considered. Trinidad knows what I can do and they know I always give it my best once I’m representing the country that carried me to a World Cup. The important thing for me now is to keep playing and hopefully I can get that recall. I am one hundred percent dedicated,” Birchall added.
“The last couple months have been tough for me because in Scotland I felt I had achieved what I wanted to in terms of fitness and playing time at St Mirren but then the injury messed things up. But now I’m getting back to where I want to be and I’m feeling better,” the ex-Port Vale winger said.
