Planet Swans ArchivesThere is a chance that Scotland could be featured in the side but Martinez is keen to keep hold of his 22 goal marksman as the season moves towards its finale. Scotland is the joint top scorer in League One and it is easy to understand why the manager would not want him travelling halfway around the world in between the world for a midweek friendly.
“It’s something I need to speak with Francisco Maturana about,” he told the Western Mail. “But he understands that, with the situation we have got, the priority is club football.
“We allowed Jason to go a few weeks back bearing in mind that, for this next game, we would have to authorise it for him to go. So there is a balance between the Trinidad and Tobago Federation and ourselves.
“But there are a lot of games before that friendly and there’s not much point thinking about it. I think [Scotland going] is still a long shot at the moment and we have a great relationship with Trinidad and Tobago."
Martinez' words were on the diplomatic side in comparison to Sunderland manager Roy Keane who was less than happy at the possibility of losing Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones for the same fixture – "I'm surprised Carlos has been called up. He's played one, two games in the last seven, eight, nine months. Maybe I need to make a call to their manager. Maybe they're not aware of that." he said last week
"Not many clubs would let their players go away like I let Kenwyne last time, to go and play a friendly (in Guadeloupe). But as I say, that's just us. I don't know what (Jack Warner's) dealings with other clubs have been.
"But Carlos is in the squad and Carlos hasn't played for us yet since he's been out. I hope they are aware of that. He has played one or two games in seven or eight months. He's now been selected for this friendly when he hasn't played for us. People in greenhouses shouldn't throw stones, as they say."
But Jack Warner, FIFA's vice president and adviser to the Soca Warriors hit back "Maybe Keane needs to be reminded of the FIFA rules on matters like this one.
"Had it been an African country, of any size, he would not even have contemplated any battle of any kind. It tells you of the contempt a few English coaches continue to have for the countries in the Caribbean, especially a country like Trinidad & Tobago."
And you would imagine that Roberto's way of dealing with things will earn him more favours than a certain Mr Keane.
