Shaka eyes spot between uprights

LONDON: With an injury cloud hanging over three clubs with Caribbean connections, their team bosses have had to think long and hard about their selections ahead of weekend matches in the English Football Premiership. Portsmouth will have to decide if to include Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors’ goalkeeper Shaka Hislop for the match against his former club Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Hislop lost his place through a hamstring injury last month and has only made the substitutes’ bench in the last two matches when Jamie Ashdown has kept his place. At the same time, Charlton Athletic will have to juggle their frontline after losing Jamaica international Kevin Lisbie to hamstring injuries for their match against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Jason Euell, a recent addition to the Jamaica Reggae Boyz roster, is one of the options for team boss Alan Curbishley however. Meanwhile, Derby County will make a late decision on the fitness of Jamaica international Michael Johnson ahead of their clash with arch rivals Nottingham Forest. Defender Johnson lost three teeth midway through last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Coventry and is wearing a mouthguard in training.