North Village teenager Taurean Manders, who netted in the Reds? recent win over PHC, is craving for international football.

The midfield schemer hasn?t worn a Bermuda jersey in seven months but reckons he?s more than ready for a national team recall.

Manders was a member of Kyle Lightbourne?s national squad that took a 7-0 beating against the visiting Manchester City Youth Academy at the National Sports Centre (NSC) last June.

The son of former Somerset Cup Match skipper Andre and nephew of former St.George?s Cup Match and Bermuda skipper Arnold, Manders made his debut for the senior national team against Barbados at the NSC at the height of Bermuda?s 2007 World Cup qualifying preparations.

A freshman at Iona College, the 19-year-old is coming off a disappointing first season playing with Gaels in the MAA (Metro Atlantic Athletic) Conference where his side completed the campaign with a 5-10 record.

And a Dudley Eve Champions Cup final loss to eventual winners Devonshire Cougars didn?t help the young Bermudian?s confidence, although he did impress with some precision passing and a rasping volley at Lords against Dandy Town that rattled the bar.

The Reds lost to Cougars in the January 2 final at Wellington Oval on penalties.

Manders conceded: ?I was looking forward to winning my first trophy playing at the senior level. I guess you can say that some things didn?t go our way. But that happens in football sometimes.

?I thought we played some good football, though I was a bit shaky in the first match (against Cougars). But eventually I was able to gel in with the players.?

Manders, however, is keen to resume his international career. And he might get the perfect chance early next month when Khano Smith?s New England Revolution come to town.

The Revs are due to arrive in Bermuda on February 13 to begin preparing for their February 22 CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final first leg clash with Costa Rican side LD Aljuelense at the NSC ? preparations that include warm-up matches with Lightbourne?s men.

?I haven?t received a call-up yet but I?m definitely looking forward to being a part of that (national programme),? Manders said. ?I?ve got a bit of experience under my belt having now played at the college level in America and hopefully I can bring this experience to the table.?

This year will also see Bermuda compete at the Caribbean and Central American (CAC) Games, CONCACAF Under-20 Tournament and the Digicel Cup competition.

Manders, due to return to studies abroad later this week, is a former Bermuda Under-20 national team captain and graduate of Pendleton School in Florida, home of the IMG Soccer Academy.

Last year saw the diminutive midfielder and his IMG team-mates bask in glory after winning the Under-19 Dallas Cup final against Toronto Junior Lynx at Lake Highlands Stadium in Dallas.

He then went on to enjoy a brief playing stint with Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference side New York/New Jersey Metro Stars? Under-19 squad.

Manders is also a tidy right-arm off-spinner and middle order batsman with First Division cricket team PHC.

Yet with all the 2007 World Cup hype, the all-rounder remains committed to football.

?That?s for the guys who actually helped the team qualify for the World Cup,? he insisted. ?They deserve it the most. I really just play the sport as a hobby more than anything else but take my football very serious.?