Striking Soca Warriors blanked

ENGLAND-based goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is currently back home.

He reportedly paid a visit to the Hasely Crawford  Stadium, Mucurapo, to see the Trinidad and Tobago senior footballers in training on Thursday. Hislop is here with his three daughters. The Portsmouth custodian also met with coach Hannibal Najjar and manager George Joseph. Also present was defender Brent Sancho, who led an 19-member strike shortly before the friendly against Finland earlier this year. After an indefinite suspension, the ban was lifted by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation last week. But like the other 18 players Sancho was not part of Thursday’s training session. It is expected their participation in future training sessions will be sorted out later this month.  Only those players who faced Finland went through the paces under coach Najjar and assistants Anthony Barrington and Ross Russell.

The 33-year-old Hislop expressed his desire to return to international duty as well as club duties in the English Premier League. “I want to get back to playing in the English Premier League. I have two seasons left with my present club, as well as this current one on my contract, but this may definitely be my last club,” said Hislop. He played previously with Reading, Newcastle and West Ham United. Concerning his future with the TT team Hislop said he was hoping to talk with Najjar. Hislop’s team suffered a rare 2-1 defeat to Wimbledon on Tuesday last, but still top the First Division with 73 points, three more than second placed Leicester City.  He leaves for London today to prepare to face Norwich City at home on Wednesday.