team tomorrow against the British Virgin Islands in the second leg of the first round World cup qualifier.

Neither technical director Clyde Best nor head coach Robert Calderon were saying last night whether the stylish midfielder -- who needed proof of his birth in Bermuda 23 years ago before being included in the squad of 18 -- would be in the starting line-up.

But both are clearly excited about the youngster's ability.

"He's a very good player,'' said Calderon.

Carter left Bermuda at the age of three in 1980 to move to the United States with his family and holds a Bermuda birth certificate. He last visited the Island in 1996.

"David Thomas mentioned him to us some time ago. So we invited him down to Florida (for the Bermuda under-23 tour in December),'' added Calderon.

"When we were down in Florida all the Bermuda players rallied behind him.'' There is an opening in the midfield with David Bascome ruled out and Carter could get it.

"We'll see,'' was Calderon's reply. "Good midfielders are hard to come by.

He's a very tidy player.'' The squad trained last evening without Meshach Wade, goalkeeper Dwayne Adams, Clifford Roberts and John Barry Nusum who were due back on the Island either last evening or by today.

Advancing to the second qualifying round should be a mere formality after Bermuda's 5-1 away win two weeks ago.

The BVI, who touched down last night at the same time the Bermuda players were training, realise the magnitude of their task...scoring at least five away goals to have any chance of delaying their exit from the tournament.

Missing for the second leg are strikers Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne and midfielder Bascome because of important fixtures with their respective clubs in England and the United States, while Jennings serves a one-match ban after a red card in the first match in the Caribbean.

Coming in are three college students, Carter, Rohaan Simons, Kofi Dill and Nusum -- two of whom could start -- while North Village midfielder Jamaul Boyles also gets his first call to the national team.

The little known Carter is grabbing his share of the spotlight after returning to the Island this week to join the team. The dreadlocked player is a recent graduate from Old Dominion College in Virginia where he lives.

Simons and Stephen Astwood both got their first taste of World Cup action in the Virgin Islands when they came on as substitutes for Paul Cann and Bascome late in the game with Bermuda already leading by four goals. Both are expected to start in the absence of Goater and Lightbourne and with the state of the tie being as it is, there shouldn't be too much pressure on the youngsters.

The match should, in fact, give Best and Calderon chance to experiment, knowing that BVI are unlikely to come back from 5-1 down.

With Goater, Lightbourne, Bascome and Jennings all out, this weekend's team will have just three starters from the last qualifying campaign. Goalkeeper Dwayne Adams is still around after a decade on the international scene...and he has still not yet reached 30! Adams' form in 1992 was a key part of the team's success in the early qualifying round, and he looked something like the `Streaker' local fans have come to know during the first leg against BVI.

Also still on the international scene are midfielders Meshach Wade, the '92 captain who also broke into the senior national team at a young age, and Paul Cann who has been playing well of late.

"There are still people that we miss. We still miss Keishon Smith who gives us a natural goalscorer in the absence of Kyle and Shaun,'' said Calderon.

"But Stevie (Astwood) has the making of a very good player.'' Best, who played in a World Cup qualifier 32 years ago as a teenager, is looking forward to a good run for the country.

"I just hope the people come out and cheer the players on,'' said Best. "We don't need them to get on the players' backs but to cheer every effort. We tend to know it all but it's easier to play the game in the stands. Let's be positive and put clubs aside and cheer for the country.'' Squad: Dwayne Adams, Timmy Figureido, Thomas Carter, Shannon Burgess (capt), Otis Steede, Meshach Wade, Stanton Lewis, Rohaan Simons, Kofi Dill, Karl Roberts, Andrew Rahman, Devarr Boyles, Paul Cann, Jamaul Boyles, Stephen Astwood, Tokia Russell, John Barry Nusum, Clifford Roberts. Clyde Best (technical director), Robert Calderon (head coach), Mark Trott (assistant coach), Maureen Ryan (physio), Vance Hollis (equipment manager).

Photos by Arthur Bean In the spotlight: BFA Technical director Clyde Best offers some final advice to the Bermuda players last night at National Stadium ahead of tomorrow's World Cup tie against British Virgin Islands.

Secret weapon: Thomas Carter might be given his first Bermuda cap.