Midfielder Reggie Lambe is set to play for Bermuda later today in their first U20 World Cup qualifying group game in Guadeloupe against the hosts. The trip means the 19-year-old will not be involved in the Blues' Carling Cup tie against Northampton next Tuesday.
Boss Roy Keane says he left it up to Lambe to decide if he wanted to play in the Bermuda matches: "I let the boy make up his own mind whether he wanted to go away and he probably made the right decision.
"If he can go off and play international football, good luck to him, especially if he’s not guaranteed a starting place here, which he wasn’t. I’ve no problem with his decision to go over there.”
The young Bermudians take on Antigua and Barbuda in their other game on Friday. Haiti were also supposed to compete in the group but have withdrawn from the competition. On Sunday, prior to Lambe joining up with the squad, Bermuda drew 1-1 with a select side from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in a friendly.
The winners of the group will qualify for the CONCACAF U20 Championship in Guatemala in April, while the group runners—up go through to the second group phase of qualifying.
Lambe, who has previously won nine full international caps, scoring four goals, in addition to games at U23 and U20 levels, has started two of Town’s Carling Cup ties this season as well as making two league appearances from the bench.
Bermuda U20s: Corey Richardson — St. David’s, Stephan Dill — Somerset Eagles, Reikco Trott — Boulevard Blazers, Rakeem DeShields — Somerset Eagles, Roger Lee — Somerset Eagles, Jaylon Bather — Somerset Eagles, Aaron Nelson — Boulevard Blazers, Errin Simons — Dandy Town Hornets, Troy Tucker — Somerset Eagles, Reggie Lambe — Ipswich Town, Quadir Maynard — Boulevard Blazers, Jair Minors — BAA, Dante Leverock — Dandy Town Hornets, Dunte Albouy — St. David’s, Shannon Burchall — Dandy Town Hornets, Casey Castle — PHC Zebras, Naeem Griffith — PHC Zebras, Jamel Swan — Dandy Town Hornets, Daniel Andrade — Somerset Eagles.