Birchall, Edwards in T&T squad for Nov 19th friendly with Jamaica.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).
Head coach Stephen Hart has named English-based duo Carlos Edwards and Christopher Birchall in his National Team for the November 19th friendly international against Jamaica.
The two players have been invited by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association for the opportunity to play before their home fans, giving the T&T faithful the chance to say thank you to two stalwarts for their services to the National football.
This was announced at a press conference hosted by the TTFA at the All Out Restaurant, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain on Friday afternoon.
Hart has also called up former Under 23 player Trevin Caesar for the November 19th match. He will join Birchall and Edwards as the the three additions to the squad for the return match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Kenwyne Jones will skipper an 18-man squad which departs for Montego Bay on Tuesday for the first friendly on Friday November 15th.
Hart explained that Racing Genk midfielder Khaleem Hyland was excused due to a request from the club because of their hectic slate of matches in Europe. Former Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino and Willis Plaza were not considered due to the inactive status at the club level. Bateau meantime, will return to his club in Belgium following the first match in Montego Bay.
“Generally it’s two good matches for us to have the opportunity to get valuable match practice and for me to have the opportunity to work with our players again. I'd like to thank the Association for getting these two games because it means we are making use of the international dates” Hart said.
“It presents us with a bit of a unique opportunity to play away from home and then travel to play at home inside a week which is something we will have to prepare for in the World Cup qualifiers for 2018. And I will also look forward to seeing how a few of the players react to this at the international level. Seeing the response of the players (who have not played regularly for us) to the training and their attitude is also important for me,” Hart added.
The two upcoming friendlies will take T&T's tally of international warm ups for the year to ten, plus four games in official competition at the CONCACAF Gold Cup
The "Caribbean Classico" at the Hasely Crawford Stadium will kick off at 8pm. Details on ticket sales will be revealed on Friday.
Trinidad and Tobago Squad for
International Friendlies versus Jamaica
Goalkeepers
Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Point Fortin Civic FC).
Defenders
Justin Hoyte (Millwall FC), Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Radanfah Abu Bakr (FC Vostok), Carlyle Mitchell (Vancouver Whitecaps), Aubrey David (Caledonia AIA), Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen), Joevin Jones (W Connection
), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force).
Midfielders
Andre Boucaud (Notts County
), Kevan George (Columbus Crew), Keon Daniel (Philadelphia Union), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA), Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava), Ataullah Guerra (Rovaniemen Palloseura), Carlos Edwards (Ipswich Town - November 19th match only)
, Christopher Birchall (Port Vale - November 19th match only).
Forwards
Rundell Winchester (Central FC), Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City - captain), Trevin Caesar (North East Stars - November 19th match only).
