PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Head coach Russell Latapy on Monday named a 22-man squad for Trinidad & Tobago’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica, a match that could go a long way in determining the country’s quest for a spot at the FIFA finals in South Africa next year.

The squad, which will be led by Dwight Yorke, includes eight players who play in the country’s professional league but is also decorated with much of the overseas professionals who are expected to form the core of the team, as they chase a victory at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago on Saturday.

“We have had a full week and a little more time for preparations in Tobago with the 22 players that will be in camp going into Saturday’s match,” said Latapy.

“I’m happy with the response of the players to the training so far. We’ve had a chance to work on different things in relation to the way we would want to contest the upcoming match and from that aspect there were positive signs.”

He added: “We’ve worked on getting the players up to a physical level that is conducive to international football and for the remainder of the week there are other areas which we will work on which will get us up to state of readiness for the match.”

In-form Joe Public midfielder Kerry Baptiste, overlooked in recent times, has been named in the squad which will be led by veteran Dwight Yorke.

Baptiste currently leads the Pro League in scoring with seven goals in four matches and also scored back-to-back hat-tricks in two recent warm-up matches for the Soca Warriors against a Tobago XI today and a Tobago All Star Team on Sunday.

The pacy Baptiste, who can also play on the right flank, will be joined by local players Keyeno Thomas (Joe Public), Makan Hislop (United Petrotrin), Keon Daniel (Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille), Trent Noel (United Petrotrin), Hayden Tinto (Joe Public) and goalkeeper Marvin Phillip of W Connection.

Yorke, released by English Premiership Sunderland last week, leads the corps of overseas players which include former teammate at the northeast England club Kenwyne Jones and red hot Swansea City striker Jason Scotland.

Jones, along with the United States-based duo of Avery John and Cornell Glen, was expected to train with the team for the first time on Monday.

T&T face a tough task in getting their World Cup campaign back on track after a lack-lustre start. They lie bottom of the CONCACAF zone on two points without a win in three matches, and face a Costa Rica side they have never yet beaten.

Following Saturday’s match, T&T will leave for Mexico for another qualifier on June 10 in Mexico City at the Azteca Stadium.

Squad – Dwight Yorke (captain), Clayton Ince, Marvin Phillip, Jan-Michael Williams, Dennis Lawrence, Marvin Andrews, Keyeno Thomas, Makan Hislop, Keon Daniel, Khaleem Hyland, Chris Birchall, Densill Theobald, Trent Noel, Carlos Edwards, Silvio Spann, Kenwyne Jones, Avery John, Cornell Glen, Kerry Baptiste, Collin Samuel, Hayden Tinto, Jason Scotland.