Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker has included five new players in his 20-man squad to face Iceland in a World Cup warm-up in London on February 28. The ‘Warriors’ coach has called up Fulham FC goalkeeper Tony Warner, and Swindon Town midfielder Ricky Shakes.

Dundee goalkeeper Kelvin Jack has been omitted from the squad through injury, so giving Fulham’s Tony Warner a chance to earn a place in the Finals in Germany.

Beenhakker has also given the call-up to young hopefuls Nigel Henry Anthony Noreiga and Kevon Neaves.

Beenhakker, who is preparing for Trinidad & Tobago's first ever World Cup Finals appearance in June, also did not include Gillingham defenders Brent Sancho and Ian Cox, Falkirk FC midfielder Densill Theobald, and St Johnstone striker Jason Scotland from the UK based players, and U.S.-based strikers Cornell Glen and Scott Sealy were also left out of the squad for the friendly match.

Warriors coach Beenhakker, speaking through Shaun Fuentes, the media officer for the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation, said: “Since qualifying we have done a lot of scouting to see players who until now were not involved in the team.”

“As a result, I am giving a fair chance to the new players: Warner, Shakes, Noreiga, Henry and Neaves, based on what we saw from them in training, and in matches.”

Beenhakker also stressed that even though certain players were left out of the friendly, they would all still be in contention for a place in his final 23-man squad for the World Cup Finals.

“The door is far from closed for these players, so they have to keep their eyes on the ball,” said the Dutch coach.

The match will be played at the home of Queens Park Rangers, Loftus Road, in London on February the 28th.

Trinidad have been drawn in Group B in the World Cup Finals, and face England, Paraguay and Sweden in their opening round group in Germany.

Full T&T Squad to face Iceland (team to be chosen from):

Goalkeepers: Shaka Hislop (West Ham, England), Clayton Ince (Coventry City, England), Tony Warner (Fulham, England)

Defenders: Cyd Gray (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Avery John (New England Revolution, U.S.), Anthony Noreiga (Kansas City Wizards, U.S.), Nigel Henry (unattached)

Midfielders: Chris Birchall (Port Vale, England), Aurtis Whitley (Jabloteh), Silvio Spann (unattached), Kevon Neaves (University of South Florida), Carlos Edwards (Luton Town, England), Ricky Shakes (Swindon Town, England)

Forwards: Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC, Australia), Russell Latapy (Falkirk, Scotland), Stern John (Coventry City, England), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton, England), Collin Samuel (Dundee United, Scotland)

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati