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Skipper Has No International Retirement Plans - Ipswich Town News

Skipper Carlos Edwards will win his 88th but probably not his last international cap when Trinidad and Tobago face Jamaica in a friendly at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain overnight.

Edwards, 35, and fellow veteran Chris Birchall, now with Port Vale, have been invited to play in the game to give Soca Warriors’ fans a chance to thank the duo for their services to their national side.

Birchall, who like Edwards played at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, has announced his retirement from international football, however, the Blues captain told TTFA Media that he has no plans to do the same.

"I’m not getting any younger but at the same time I’m still playing at a relatively high level and I intend to keep playing. I still want to offer my services to the national team of Trinidad and Tobago," he said.

"It was always my intention to keep on playing. I played the whole Gold Cup and I missed the entire pre-season for my club so I decided it might be a good time to take a backseat from international football for a little while.

"But I don’t intend to call it quits just yet. I think I still have something to offer in terms of helping the team and helping the younger players to develop with the experience that I have now. We have to build for the future and I’d like to be part of it.”

Trinidad and Tobago beat Jamaica 1-0 in an away friendly at Montego Bay on Friday and Edwards, who has scored four international goals, says the Reggae Boyz will be out for revenge.

"It’s great to be back and to be appreciated by the [Football] Association and the country. I’m always excited to play before the home fans and even more so after the boys pulled off the win on Friday.

"I know for a fact Jamaicans hate losing and they will be coming very hard at us on Tuesday to even things up.

"I haven’t played much against them in the past but having been around our national team for so long, I know the rivalry is one of the biggest in football when you look at all the confederations. So, in saying that, there is definitely a lot at stake.”

Elsewhere, academy first-year scholar Jonny Smith will be in action with Northern Ireland's U17s in the final game of their European Championships qualifier against Turkey at Stangmore Park, Dungannon this afternoon (KO 2pm).

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s play a behind-closed-doors friendly against a strong Colchester side this afternoon.

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