Colorado Rapids-bound Bermudian full back Kevin Richards has been omitted from the Island's national squad to take on Montserrat in this Sunday's World Cup qualifier due to school commitments at Notre Dame University.

The 22 year-old attack-minded defender performed admirably during Bermuda's opening international friendly against Trinidad and Tobago earlier this month at the National Sports Centre but has now been forced to remain on campus to catch up on his studies.

Last year, Richards helped the Fighting Irish clinch the Big East title before capping off a highly successful 2003 season by being drafted by the Rapids during the Major League Soccer Superdraft.

The former PHC Zebras striker has impressed in his limited national team appearances, providing coach Kenny Thompson with an additional attacking option with his sheer pace and forceful overlapping runs down the right flank.

“Kevin won't be back. He has fallen behind a little bit academically as a result of undergoing Major League Soccer trials and also representing his country recently against Trinidad,” confirmed Thompson yesterday.

“Given he played so well in the first match (against Trinidad) before going off injured in the second match, we certainly do not want to lose players who have demonstrated good form. But again this is something we are faced with and so we must provide a solution.”

That solution, revealed Thompson, could very well materialise in the form of North Village defender David Thomas.

“The solution comes in the form of another national squad member who we expect to play at a high level as well. So I don't believe Kevin's absence will have an overall negative impact on the team performance because we have capable replacements.

“Actually with Kevin being available for the Trinidad matches was quite timely because David (Thomas) had a slight injury but he has now fully recovered and is included in the training squad of 20 players,” added Thompson.

Despite the unavailability of Richards and England-based Chris Moulder through a groin injury, Thompson says he still has “a lot of faith” in his squad.

“I have a lot of faith in the entire squad and not just the starters. But it is very important that every player is ready for a starting call and I believe that every player is quite capable of adequately performing given the opportunity,” he said. “These opportunities for any player could come in the form of player unavailability through whatever situation.”

Thompson added: “Kevin is going to be a miss, but David is also a very attack-minded defender. So all of the players are quite capable of offering something in terms of our attack. But obviously our defenders' first priority is defending. Certainly Kevin has a lot of speed which we will not be able to duplicate.

“However, sometimes you lose something in one area but gain in another. So speed is very important but it is not the only answer.”

Richards was drafted last month by the Rapids as a fourth-round pick.

Last year the Bermudian spurred the Fighting Irish, ranked fifth nationally in the US, into the third round of the prestigious NCCA Championship before being ousted by Michigan.