Dennis Lawrence and midfielder Clyde Leon are both back into contention for places in the Soca Warriors squad to face USA in tomorrow's Concacaf World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 7.11 pm. This after the duo missed Saturday's 4�1 loss away to Honduras in San Pedro Sula due to suspension.
The 35-year-old Lawrence is expected to take over the captain's arm-band from Marvin Andrews for the match, while Leon should take his place in midfield alongside Trent Noel at the expense of Densill Theobald. Lawrence, who now plays locally for Clico San Juan Jabloteh, also skippered the team in T&T's 1�0 win over El Salvador at the same venue on August 12 after the now retired Dwight Yorke started on the bench. Yesterday national coach, Russell Latapy held a one hour training session with his players at the Mucurapo venue and today he will hold another session from 6.30 pm.
The Americans, who arrived in T&T last night, will train one hour earlier at Mucurapo. Currently, goal-difference is all that separates leaders Honduras and USA, both with 13 points each at the top. Mexico and Costa Rica are next, just a point behind. But how Concacaf's leading quartet does against El Salvador and T&T will likely determine which teams secure the three automatic qualifying slots. The fourth place team will face a playoff date with the fifth placed South American team.
Last October, T&T defeated the USA 2�1 with Russell Latapy scoring the winner, however he has since been appointed team coach meaning the Soca Warriors will have to look elsewhere for a match winner.
Following the defeat to Honduras, which all but ended the Soca Warriors hopes of qualifying for South Africa, Latapy was quoted as saying: "Like every football match we play, we will go out trying to play to the best of our ability and with the intention of winning the match. We are aware that there are still three more games to go in the round."
"We are at home and that's where you need to take advantage regarding trying to accumulate your points. We will try to finish with the highest amount of points possible." For tomorrow's match El Salvadorean referee Joel Aguilar will carry the whistle and he will have as his assistants, countrymen William Torres and Juan Zumba. The fourth official is Elmer Arturo Bonilla, also of El Salvador.
Soca Warriors team
Goalkeepers: Clayton Ince, Marvin Phillip, Jan-Michael Williams.
Defenders: Keyeno Thomas, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Marvin Andrews, Jlloyd Samuel, Silvio Spann, Keston Williams, Dennis Lawrence.
Midfielders: Lyndon Andrews, Hughton Hector, Densill Theobald, Carlos Edwards, Trent Noel, Keon Daniel, Hayden Tinto, Clyde Leon.
Forwards: Kerry Baptiste, Kenwyne Jones, Jason Scotland, Cornell Glen.
Remaining matches
Tomorrow
El Salvador vs Costa Rica
T&T vs USA
Mexico vs Honduras
October 10
Honduras vs USA
Mexico vs El Salvador
Costa Rica vs T&T
October 14
El Salvador vs Honduras
T&T vs Mexico
USA vs Costa Rica