Reggie Lambe's name may be on the lips of every Bermuda football fan this week — but it is another talented teenager who has coach Keith Tucker's mouth watering, writes Stephen Wright.

Step forward 17-year-old Nahki Wells who Tucker describes as "something special" after watching him punch above his weight against his more experienced team-mates in training ahead of Bermuda's double header against St. Kitts and Nevis.

Like Lambe, Wells is a Dandy Town product and was drafted into Kenny Thompson's Bermuda Under-23 Island Games squad earlier this year despite his tender years.

Tucker shares Thompson's policy of 'if they're good enough they're old enough' and envisions a bright future ahead for the young midfielder.

"Young Wells is a man in a 17-year-old's body, he could be something special," crooned Tucker. "He's only a schoolboy but was part of Kenny Thompson's Under-23 Island Games squad, and I believe that was a great move by Kenny to bring him up.

"I've been watching him and I thought to myself 'you're not just a skillful player, you're an intelligent player'. I've heard good reports about his performance in the domestic league this season with Dandy Town.

"With his ability age isn't really a factor for me — I can't turn him away. He's a smart guy with a good football brain and his touch is incredible. When you find a player like that you have to make use of him.

"Along with Reggie Lambe he's part of the national team's future. The sky's the limit for these young boys."

While Tucker will keep the core of his team the same for both warm-up games, he will look to run the rule over as many of his 20-man squad as possible. In most areas of the pitch he believes he is well stocked, but does admit to having concerns about the dearth of an 'old fashioned centre-half' on the Island. It is a quandary the Bermuda Hogges hierarchy can probably sympathise with.

"It's important all the guys get a run-out over the two matches, but a core of five or six players will probably feature throughout," said Tucker. "I'm a big believer in having two players in each position and we have that in most areas other than defence — I haven't identified four stoppers yet.

"My concern with the defence is the size is not quite there. Ideally I'd like at least one 6ft-plus guy in the centre. But we're looking at Darius Cox to partner Omar Shakir — both players read the game very well.

"We also need to find a defensive midfield player who can sit, handle the ball and break up play. It's a role I believe PHC's Jeff Franklin could possibly perform for us, if fit.

"I'm getting excited about the matches now. We've had good combinations from Stevie (Astwood), Sammy (DeGraff) and Kwame (Steede) in training and I believe we're capable of playing a high level of football.

"We just need to make sure our defence is compact."