Premier Division soccer players are set to head to the US in the hope of following in the footsteps of college star John Barry Nusum.

Earlier this week Nusum, a striker with Wolves, signed a deal with Major League Soccer and is expected to be one of the top picks at this month's draft.

Now hot on the heels of Nusum's news it has been revealed that up to half a dozen Island players are to be invited to trials with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the United Soccer League.

The Georgian side are coached by Brett Mosen, a former player with BAA Wanderers in Bermuda.

"We thought it would be nice to have the boys come over and take part in trials next month," said Mosen yesterday. "There are quite a few players that we have a special interest in from Bermuda and I know that some are already here in the US in school."

Mosen refused to name the players involved, although he did say four were Island-based while two others were studying in the US.

"We have players coming out of college and our professional leagues are growing all the time so we have an abundance of resumes," said Mosen. "Although we have an open try-out which is open to anybody, what I try to do is hold a select trial over a three day period in February which I just limit to 40 players."

This, he said, would enable the club to have a more indepth look at what the players had to offer.

"There will be a staff of coaches along with myself that will be evaluating the players during small-sided games which gives us more time to see them," he said. "We all know players can easily get overlooked or don't perform to their full potential during the limited, larger trials, but I feel that over three day period they have a better opportunity to display their talent.

"Hopefully from there they get selected and we then sign them to a professional contract enabling them to start pre-season training in April."

Many players from the Silverbacks' league go on to play in the MLS and the club is hoping to act as a feeder for two teams.

"Our affiliates keep a close eye on who we have here on our roster so the players do get the opportunity to progress to the major leagues as well," said the coach.

Meanwhile, Mosen - who was last on the Island conducting coaching courses in October last year - has revealed an interest in the vacant Bermuda Football Association post of Director of Youth Development, saying he had thrown his hat into the ring prior to taking on the job in Atlanta towards the end of last year.

"I have a very good job here in Georgia. When I applied for the Bermuda position it was at a time when the club I was coaching was going in a different direction and I was going to be out of work," he said. "Although it is a great job here I would love the opportunity to help build a program in Bermuda."

As well as his seven years as a professional coach in the US, Mosen was also involved with the US Olympic Youth Development Programme and holds a United States Soccer Federation Licence - the highest level attainable there.