Ince relying on team-mates to start a cup run
saddlers.co.ukWHILST the rest of his team-mates are battling it out with Accrington Stanley for a place in the second round of the Carling Cup this evening, Clayton Ince will be busy preparing for Trinidad & Tobago's latest World Cup Qualifier.
The Soca Warriors take on El Salvador tomorrow night, meaning Ince will miss tonight's encounter at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.
T & T are currently bottom of the North, Central America and Caribbean Final Group with just two points and Ince admits that anything other than victory in the Port Of Spain could put pay to his dreams of participating in the 2010 World Cup.
"It is a very important game for the country," he said. "We have drew two of the first five games and need to start winning games.
"Including El Salvador, we have five games left in the group. The top three qualify automatically and the fourth placed team play-off against a team from South America.
"Qualification is still possible and that is our aim."
Ince will, of course, be keeping his fingers crossed that Chris Hutchings' men can navigate their way past Stanley tonight and progress to the next stage of the Carling Cup.
The popular keeper has yet to enjoy an extended run in a domestic cup competition during his time with The Saddlers and is hoping that 2009/10 will be the season.
"We haven't really had a cup run during my time here," he said. "The League is the most important competition but a run in the cup with Walsall is something I'd like to experience.
"I've played at Accrington when we were both in League Two and it's a compact stadium and a difficult place to go. We're a league above them but that doesn't mean anything. It's the first round and the incentive is to go further in the competition and draw a big team.
"I've been here a few years now and we haven't had the opportunity to go and play at one of the big grounds in any of the cup competitions and that's a big incentive in these early rounds. "I'll be keeping an eye on the results and am hoping for a double celebration over the next 48 hours."
Ince will return from International Duty in time for Saturday's League One encounter with Southend United.
