Dale Eve has ruled himself out of Bermuda’s two friendly matches in St Kitts and Nevis this month as he continues to settle in at non-League side Forest Green Rovers.

Eve, who turned 21 yesterday, said he wants to be involved in Bermuda’s two group matches in the Caribbean Cup against Cuba and French Guiana on March 22 and 26.

Bermuda will play St Kitts and Nevis’ Under-20 team on February 19 and a full international against their first team two days later.

“I don’t think I’ll be available for the friendlies, more so looking forward to the actually qualifying matches,” said Eve, who has informed Maurice Lowe, the Bermuda Football Association technical development director, of his decision.

Eve joined Forest Green, the Vanarama National League side, after being released by Barclays Premier League side Stoke City last week.

The Bermuda goalkeeper had a spell at the Vanarama National League side in October and will be looking to prove to Ady Pennock, the club’s manager, that he is worth a longer deal.

Pennock, a former Stoke youth team coach, is a known admirer of Eve from their time together at the Britannia Stadium and described him as a “talented boy with a good future in front of him.”

Eve hopes Forest Green can be his ticket back into the Football League next season.

“If they get promoted then obviously I’ll stay, I want to be in the [Football] League next season,” Eve said.

Eve travelled with Forest Green’s first team to Wales last weekend and with second-choice goalkeeper Jonny Maxted recovering from a broken foot, was on the bench against Wrexham.

The match ended 2-2 which cost Forest Green top spot as Cheltenham Town won 2-1 away to Barrow to climb above them.

Forest Green needed a stoppage-time equaliser against Wrexham and now face another tough away match against Halifax Town this weekend.

Eve has joined Forest Green to provide back-up for No 1 Steve Arnold in the absence of Maxted. The Bermuda player admits it is difficult for a young goalkeeper to become established in first-team football.

At Stoke there were at least three goalkeepers in front of him, including first-choice Jack Butland and Shay Given, the former Republic of Ireland and Newcastle United goalkeeper.

Also ahead of Eve at the Britannia Stadium was Jakob Haugaard, the high-regarded Denmark goalkeeper who joined Stoke from Midtjylland on a three-year deal last May.

“It’s always difficult being a young goalkeeper, I was just trying to get as much experience as I could,” Eve said.

“At a Premier League club you try to pick up as much information as you can, trying to build your profile as high as you can.”

Eve, who played in Bermuda’s World Cup qualifying match against Guatemala last June, has had loan spells at Fleetwood Town, Nuneaton Town, Newcastle Town and Congleton, said he was determined to make the most of his time at the New Lawn.

“I’m just looking forward to next season, they’ve been top of the league all season,” he said.

“I was excited to get the call. I’ve been here before and everybody was excited to have me back at the club.”

• Reggie Lambe returned to the Mansfield Town starting line-up yesterday as they drew 2-2 away at Oxford United.

Jack Thomas’s late header rescued a point for Mansfield against their Sky Bet League Two promotion rivals.

Matt Green, the former Oxford striker, gave Mansfield the lead in the 22nd minute, heading in after Sam Slocombe’s weak attempt to punch a cross clear.

However, Oxford were level less than ten minutes later when Danny Hylton sent his low header past Scott Shearer, the Mansfield goalkeeper..

Hylton fired in his second from Zeli Ismail’s pass with little more than an hour gone, but Thomas levelled in the final minute after Ryan Tafazolli’s shot had hit the bar.

Hylton could have won the game for Oxford in injury team, but he mishit his shot from five yards out and sent the ball wide.

The result means Mansfield climb to fourth in the table, four points behind third-placed Oxford.