Willie Clemons is hoping to be involved in Bermuda’s friendly matches against Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados in the Caribbean this month.

The 23-year-old midfielder’s availability was thrown into doubt after signing a professional deal for Swedish fourth-tier side Boden last week. However, Clemons is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be able to make the trip to the Caribbean.

“I want to be a part of this tour,” Clemons said. “I am talking to both parties, my club and the coaching staff of the national programme, because I feel I have established a good place in the national team.”

The former BAA player scored during Bermuda’s 3-2 home defeat to Barbados in their previous outing at the National Stadium last October after squandering a 2-0 lead.

“I definitely want to play, especially after losing to Barbados last time out,” Clemons added. “But we will see how that works out.”

Bermuda will play Antigua and Barbuda on March 21 before facing Barbados on March 25.

Clemons realised a childhood ambition to play professionally after accepting the terms of a two-year deal with Boden. He was scouted while participating in the Professional Soccer Consulting Baltic Showcase Tour in Latvia and Estonia and turned down an initial deal to play for Estonian top-flight outfit Viljandi Tulevik.

Before jetting off in January in pursuit of a professional deal Clemons had played an integral role in BAA’s push for promotion to the Premier Division. He remains confident his former team will achieve its primary objective and keeps close tabs on their progress.

“I think it about it every day and still keep in touch with them,” he said. “I definitely set out this season at BAA to make a statement with them and I am happy to see that they are continuing on without me very well.”

BAA have a three-point lead at top the First Division standings with three matches remaining, including one against Clemons’s former side and fellow promotion hopefuls Southampton Rangers.

“I am confident that BAA are going to win the league with the players they have,” Clemons said. “They have more than enough quality. It’s now just a matter of showing the rest of the Island what we at BAA already know.”