PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Captain and marquee striker, Kenwyne Jones, will sit out Trinidad and Tobago’s international friendly against Mexico on Friday, as he sorts out his future with English Championship club Cardiff City.
The 30-year-old has been at the centre of transfer speculation in recent weeks, with several media reports linking him to a move away from Cardiff City Stadium.
Sheffield Wednesday, another Championship club, have been named as the likely destination for Jones.
In announcing the squad, T&T head coach Stephen Hart said both Jones and Sheldon Bateau, had asked not to be considered for selection.
“Jones is trying to sort out his future with Cardiff City and Bateau has now joined Russian Premier Division club FC Krylia Sovetov Samara and have both asked to be excused,” Hart said.
Jones has been in great form already this season, scoring twice in his last two outings for Cardiff City to keep them unbeaten in the league.
Last season, he was their leading scorer with 14 goals.
Jones has a year remaining on his contract but media reports say the Bluebirds are desperate to hang on to their prized striker, even at the risk of allowing him to leave on a free transfer next season.
He and Bateau are two of four players missing as Carlyle Mitchell and Lester Peltier are also out of the 20-man squad named for the contest at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
The quartet of Marcus Joseph, Trevin Caesar, Gavin Hoyte and Neveal Hackshaw has been called up and while all four players have already been capped at the senior level, none have played more than seven times.
Only last month, T&T and Mexico played to a thrilling 4-4 draw in their final preliminary group game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina – a game in which Jones scored an own goal and a goal.
