While the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) continues its efforts to arrange friendly matches for the national senior team, Head coach Dwight Yorke will focus on assessing overseas-based players, including those already in the squad and potential recruits eligible to represent the country.

Yorke, who was appointed last month, has already conducted a one-week training camp with locally-based players, but TTFA President Kieron Edwards explained that the former Manchester United striker and his coaching staff would be alternating between local and international duties.

“He’s also doing his due diligence to get up to speed with the international players... He’s carded to go and see Levi (Garcia) and have some discussions with Levi and those guys in Europe shortly,” Edwards said in an interview on local TV station WESN.

Current immigration laws restrict the number of players with Trinidad and Tobago roots that can be recruited, but Edwards remains hopeful that these laws may eventually change.

In the meantime, the TTFA is pressing forward with its search for new talent.

“We are in discussions with several persons with heritage from the diaspora, not just on the senior level but Under-17 level as well, and the Under-20 level to bolster those teams because we have an important World Cup Under-17 qualifier coming up in Costa Rica shortly,” Edwards said.

Though reluctant to say which players they have been in contact with, when asked about the possibility of recruiting winger Jadon Sancho, currently on loan at Chelsea from Manchester United, Edwards acknowledged the potential impact of securing such a high-profile player.

Sancho, who has Trinidadian heritage through his mother, has been capped 23 times by the England senior team.

“If we do get the likes of Jadon Sancho in our outfit, it would only help Trinidad and Tobago football,” Edwards said.

Meanwhile, Edwards revealed that efforts to organize warm-up games are progressing.

“We are in final discussions with Saudi Arabia in terms of having that game played, but there is interest from other countries in terms of having games played outside of the (FIFA match-day) window, and I think that’s important for the local group,” he shared.

“It’s important that we have games for the local group as well as the guys that are playing in the USA and Canada... They would be in their off-season as well... so that we can ensure these guys really stay match fit at that intensity and at that level,” Edwards added.

Finally, Edwards praised Yorke’s early impact on the programme thus far.

“I think with coach Dwight Yorke coming in...and having the camp with the local guys, I think that has re-energized the local players and given them the confidence to push on and really represent and be part of this World Cup campaign,” he ended.