Keishen Bean has been ruled out of Bermuda?s Digicel Cup squad due to travel to Barbados on Friday with a suspected hernia.

The 2005-06 Young Player of the Year Award recipient aggravated the groin area in his left leg while representing the Island?s Under-20 national team in Haiti last month.

And although he returned to play for club side North Village, the 19-year-old striker failed to shake off the effects of the nagging injury that may now require surgery.

?It all depends on what the doctor says after I have my check up this week,? commented Bean, on the prospect of undergoing a second surgery in two years.

In 2004 the forceful North Village striker underwent knee surgery before flying off to Cuba where he briefly enrolled in studies before returning to the Island to enjoy a memorable season ? by far his best to date ? in top flight football. Last season saw Bean became the youngest member of a triple crown winning team since former West Ham and Somerset Trojans? striker Clyde Best in 1967-68 and the first local footballer to score a hat-trick in the FA Cup Final.

He also netted a hat-trick against Ireland Rangers last February to give Village their third Premier Division championship in five seasons, performances that earned the player a call up to the senior national team.

Bean impressed national team officials during the squad?s previous Digicel Cup qualifying commitment last September in the US Virgin Islands, and was keen to pick up where he left off in Barbados next week.

?I was just starting to find a bit of fitness in my game and now I?m going to be out,? he said. ?I was really looking forward to the trip, especially knowing that all of our top players will be there to play. I really wanted to test myself alongside the bigger players.?

National coach Kyle Lightbourne admitted Bean?s services will be missed.

?Obviously he?s one of our better up and coming payers,? Lightbourne said. ?And I personally thought Keishen did well on the last tour to the US Virgin Islands.

?So this is a bit of a disappointment and he?ll definitely be a big miss. But his loss will also be someone else?s gain.?

Bean, son of former Somerset Eagles and Southampton Rangers midfielder Wayne Bean, is scheduled to attend Lynn University in Florida next January where he will be reunited with Village team-mate Tyrell Burgess.