Soca Warriors regroup.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team head coach Francisco Maturana will get down to the business of preparing his squad for the June 1 encounter against England with a first training session at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Maturana, after naming a squad of twenty-six players, will have all but two players at his first session with Sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards arriving a day later and Puerto Rico Islanders defender Osei Telesford also coming in later in the weekend.
Expected to be at the session as well is Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones although he is not expected to take part in any physical activity until further go ahead from the medics.
The rest of the squad will be present including Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince, W Connection midfielder Aurtis Whitley, striker Darryl Roberts, Southampton prolific goalscorer Stern John, goalie Jan Michael Williams, French-based winger Kevaughn Connell among some of the other players based here in T&T such as Kern Cupid, Makan Hislop, Anton Pierre, Keon Daniel, Ataullah Guerra, Akile Edwards, Khaleem Hyland, Marvin Phillip and strikers Jamal Gay and Jerol Forbes among others.
Team manager David Muhammad confirmed: “All is in place for the commencement of the training camp. The only two players missing will be Carlos and Osei and of course Kenwyne will be present but he will not begin training until a few more days.”
Maturana is eager to get on with the preparations and will have his eyes too on next week’s friendly between England and United States having also observed the showings from some of the England players involved in Wednesday’s Champions’ League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea.
“It is important that we come together and get the preparations going on. This is an important period for the team… when the players can come together and begin the work. I am looking forward to this part of it because this is where we get to know each other better again and we can work towards our game for June 1,” Maturana told TTFF Media.
Meantime England manager Fabio Capello has demonstrated that he will run the England squad on his own terms by scheduling the longest-ever post-season training camp in recent memory – an 11-day stretch at the end of this month. The Italian told the English Football Association that the scarcity of time he had spent with his players since starting in the job in January meant that he was not prepared to compromise, according to UK Media reports.
The England players were scheduled to meet up today (Thursday) before the USA game with one day's grace for the Chelsea and United contingent involved in the European Cup final. Capello stressed that he did not want their fitness compromised by two full weeks without training.
Owen eyes extra cap versus T&T
Meantime Newcastle United striker Michael has set his sights on winning 100 England caps and beating Bobby Charlton's goal-scoring record for his country.
Owen should add two more caps to his total of 89 in England's forthcoming friendlies including the one against T&T. The Newcastle forward could also increase his current England goal total in those two relatively undemanding games. Charlton holds the scoring record with 49 goals and Owen is only nine strikes behind.
Owen, 28, admits it would be a dream come true if he could emulate David Beckham in joining England's ton-up club.
"Well obviously it would be a very proud moment if I was ever lucky enough to get it," Owen told Sky Sports. "The two elements are staying fit and being in good form and if you do them two, then I would be hopeful one day I can get it.
"It sounds nothing - 11 caps to go - but at international level that is either a year-and-a-half or two years so it isn't easy and that puts David's 100 caps and achievement into perspective. He has been fantastic."
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Owen is fourth on the list of England's all-time goalscorers list, with Jimmy Greaves (on 44) and Gary Lineker (on 48) the only men between him and Charlton's total.
The opportunity to bolster his total against USA and T&T is keeping Owen motivated for the post-season friendlies.
"They are good games and as a striker you always go into those matches looking to score and almost complete the set," he added.
