Edwards excused from friendly vs Guadeloupe.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards has asked to be excused from the February 6 international friendly against Guadeloupe. The former Wrexham star made the call home on Monday and explained that he still was some way off being a hundred percent fit following his break foot injury last year and prefers to sit out the encounter and make himself available to the country for future encounters.
Edwards only last week returned to full training with Sunderland and manager Roy Keane has been hesitant in putting him back into the first team although he could feature on the weekend against Liverpool.
Coach Anton Corneal said Edwards' stance was understandable at this time. Edwards further stated that he will be in full flight for the March 26 affair away to Jamaica.
"I'm a bit saddended to be missing this game (Feb 6) because obviously it's a big one with the majority of the players coming back and with it just being right after Carnival and to kick things off for the campaign. But I honestly don't think I'm 100 percent as yet even though that will only come with playing time too. But I definitely will be back and I'm eying that one against Jamaica," Edwards told TTFF Media.
Sparta Rotterdam striker Darryl Roberts is also unlikely to make the trip home with club management preferring for him to remain on club duty. That means now that thirteen other places could be up for grabs among the home-based professionals with no decision taken yet on a possible look at another overseas-based player.
The other overseas-based already confirmed for the fixture include Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones, Walsall goalie Clayton Ince, Collin Samuel, Wrexham's Silvio Spann, Ujpest FC's Densill Theobald, Swansea City's Jason Scotland and Southampton striker Stern John.