Head coach of T&T’s senior men’s football team, Dwight Yorke has made one forced adjustment to his team headed to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup in the USA.
Defence Force defender Justin Garcia has been called in to replace Josiah Trimmingham who injured his knee during the warm-up before T&T’s second-round World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica in San Jose on Tuesday night.
According to the TTFA, Garcia, 29, will join the camp in Santa Clara, California on Thursday morning ahead of T&T’s group D tournament opener against the USA on Sunday at PayPal Park, California.
Trimmingham’s injury on Tuesday night exposed a potential problem for Yorke, which is a lack of recognised central defenders in his 26-man squad, with veteran Sheldon Bateau being the only other specialist in the position.
Trimmingham’s loss forced Yorke to use Crystal Palace midfielder Rio Cardines at right fullback, while regular fullback Isaiah Garcia was used as a central defender alongside Alvin Jones, another fullback and Bateau.
Left-sided defenders Darnell Hospedales, and Andre Raymond are the other defenders in the squad.
T&T’s Gold Cup Team
Goalkeepers: Denzil Smith, Marvin Phillip, Jabari St Hillaire.
Defenders: Sheldon Bateau, Justin Garcia, Alvin Jones, Isaiah Garcia, Darnell Hospedales, Andre Raymond.
Midfielders: Kevin Molino (c), Joevin Jones, Daniel Phillips, Rio Cardines, Andre Rampersad, Noah Powder, Ajani Fortune, Kaihim Thomas, Steffen Yeates, Wayne Frederick II.
Attackers: Levi Garcia, Nathaniel James, Tyrese Spicer, Dante Sealy, Real Gill, Isaiah Leacock, Isaiah Lee.