In a week when the focus is firmly on international football, Blues left-back Tyrone Mings has revealed he could one day become the first Town player to represent Barbados.

He said: “I qualify for England and I qualify for Barbados, and as far as I know that’s it. Nothing is happening at the moment and to be honest I wouldn’t even know how to contact Barbados if I wanted to play for them.

“At the moment I am just focusing on getting into the Ipswich team. I qualify for Barbados through my grandparents on my dad’s side, who were both born there, but if I’m honest I would rather play for England, although I know that’s a long way off.”

Barbados are currently ranked joint-173rd in FIFA's rankings along with fellow Caribbean island Aruba.

Mings will soon celebrate a year as a full-time professional, having signed for Town from non-league Chippenham Town in December, and is long past the settling-in stage.

But the 20-year-old defender is still thanking his lucky stars that he somehow managed to avoid the initiation that all players dread — singing in front of their new team-mates.

He laughed: “I signed on a Thursday and on the Friday we were travelling to Leeds. I was in the squad and when I got up there they mentioned something about singing and the initiation.

“TC was stood next to me and he said to me ‘Don’t worry, you don’t have to do that.’ He was telling Carlos Edwards and Luke Chambers, two influential members of the group.

“When he said I didn’t have to do it I regarded it as a bit of a let-off. However, in pre-season the manager asked me if I sang when I first came to the club, but by then it was too late because others had come in and thankfully I managed to slip through the net.”

Mings, who made his fourth senior appearance when he deputised for suspended left-back Aaron Cresswell at Blackpool on Saturday, paid tribute to his Town colleagues for enabling him to settle in so quickly after he joined the club.

He added: “I have felt like one of the boys for quite a long time now. TC and the manager, and also Sparky [Mark Kennedy] have been excellent with me.

“They have welcomed me on board and made sure I feel part of the team, plus playing at Burnley on the final day of last season and then coming back to do a full pre-season also helped a lot.”

Photo: Action Images

Rentaghost added 07:29 - Nov 13 Good luck on whoever you choose. Nice hot sunshine, fantastic views from th beach. We have Blackpool as an alternative.
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Radlett_blue added 07:38 - Nov 13 Oh no - not another player endlessly crossing the Atlantic to play low standard football.
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brian_a_mul added 08:56 - Nov 13 Its nice to hear Sparky getting a good mention, he has been getting some flack for results in U-21/reserves. His main job is to help bring players through the ranks and prepare them for the first team.
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NW10_Tractor added 09:36 - Nov 13 Represent the Pride my son. Bajan Pride. You could also get a free jeep from McInerney's! - The CONCACAF is a tough qualifier group when you have teams like Mexico and USA consistantly winning... - but it would be an excellent test especially when you play on that HARD pitch at the national stadium...
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Robbie12345 added 11:01 - Nov 13 No affence to him, but he won't be playing for England anytime soon, so he should take the opitunity of playing regurally for a national side, which will be great experience for him and turn him into a better player (probally captining them too) :)
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wadey added 11:27 - Nov 13 Didn't reggie lambe play for Barbados??
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PhilTWTD added 12:00 - Nov 13 Reggie Lambe played for Bermuda.
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wadey added 12:39 - Nov 13 Ah my mistake :)
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harmitfc added 17:49 - Nov 13 As a life long Town fan and half-Bajan, this is could be excellent news! Now I can almost justify to my wife in going back to Bim to cheer on a Town player! Ummm...
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