English-based Trini in 20-man football squad

TRINIDAD AND Tobago-born Jason Norville, a member of English First Division team Watford, is among 20 players included in the national senior football team for two friendly matches this weekend.

The Trinidad and Tobago squad is due to face English Second Division club Wrexham on Sunday as well as an international friendly against Morocco on September 10. Coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier will field a team which has a blend of 10 local and 10 foreign-based players, with the 20-year-old Norville, a midfielder-striker who is yet to play this season, accepting the invitation of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF). The team will leave for Manchester on Friday, with Norville, who has recently recovered from an ankle injury, joining the team before their matchup against Wrexham. Wrexham’s trio of Dennis Lawrence, Hector Sam and Carlos Edwards — all named among the final 20 — are expected to represent their club in Sunday’s match. The other overseas-based players are captain Marvin “Dog” Andrews of Livingston, fellow stopper Brent Sancho of Dundee, striker Jason Scotland of Dundee United, Falkirk midfielder Brent Rahim, German-based Evans Wise and Irish-based defender Avery John. Stern John of Birmingham City is yet to confirm his availability on the team, even though efforts will be made to accommodate his entry, while goalkeepers Shaka Hislop (Portsmouth) and Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexandra) are both unavailable.

According to Charles-Fevrier, “this is another important international for us in the preparations for the World Cup qualifiers that will be upon us soon. So it’s good to be able to have the overseas and the local pros come together for this game”. “Fortunately, it’s an international week so we can use this to have a look at the players who are now on the foreign circuit,” he continued. On the selection of Norville, the St Lucian-born coach added, “it’s also a good chance to see how the new player from Watford will fit into the team. I’m keen to see how he does.” The local-based pros who made the cut are CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, the recalled Joe Public goalkeeper Michael McComie, Jabloteh midfielders Otis Seaton (Aurtis Whitley) and Travis Mulraine, striker Cornell Glen of Jabloteh, W Connection’s sweeper Reynold Carrington, teammate Stokely Mason, Starworld Strikers midfielder Dale Saunders, Defence Force’s stopper Anton Pierre and SWIF striker Peter Prosper. Due to a clash of matches between the seniors and the national Under-23 team, Charles-Fevrier will not accompany the U-23s to their Olympic qualifiers in Bahamas this weekend. Charles-Fevrier’s assistant, former Strike Squad defender Brian Williams, will lead the U-23s during their CONCACAF qualifiers against the Bahamians on Friday and Sunday.

SQUAD - Kelvin Jack, Michael McComie (goalkeepers); Marvin Andrews (capt), Avery John, Reynold Carrington, Brent Sancho, Dennis Lawrence, Anton Pierre (defenders); Brent Rahim, Stokely Mason, Dale Saunders, Evans Wise, Otis Seaton, Travis Mulraine, Carlos Edwards (midfielders); Peter Prosper, Cornell Glen, Hector Sam, Jason Scotland, Jason Norville (strikers).