Bermuda’s hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup have been boosted by the news that Kenni Thompson will make her senior international debut in the upcoming matches.

Thompson, a winger, and goalkeeper Micah Pond have made themselves available for Bermuda’s remaining group matches against St Vincent & the Grenadines and Dominican Republic.

Pond is returning to the national set-up after missing recent matches as a result of school and work commitments while Thompson, who plays for Spanish top-flight side Eibar, will appear for the island for the first time.

“These are great additions and anytime a player is available to represent their country is a good thing,” Naquita Robinson, the Bermuda coach, told The Royal Gazette.

“Kenni will fit right into what it is we are trying to do and where we are trying to go. She will join a very good group of players.

“We are delighted to have Micah Pond returning. We know her quality and she brings a wealth of experience on and off the pitch.”

Thompson, the daughter of men’s national team assistant coach Kenny Thompson, has played for Espanyol, Deportivo La Coruña, Santa Teresa, London City Lionesses and Chelsea’s Youth Academy before joining Eibar last summer.

Robinson has been busy putting her players through their paces behind the scenes in the build-up to next week’s crucial fixtures.

“With limited numbers the focus has been on strength and conditioning and technical training,” she said.

“Team morale is very high and the players are very excited and ready to get to work.”

Bermuda remain top of League B group C by a point over Dominican Republic and will host bottom side St Vincent in their next match at Flora Duffy Stadium on December 1 before closing out the group stage four days later with a likely decider against their nearest rivals in Santo Domingo.

The national women’s team prevailed 4-0 over winless St Vincent and 2-0 against Dominican Republic in the first meetings between the countries in September and remain unbeaten with three wins and a draw from their four matches after defeating Barbados 4-2 in October.

Bermuda will be without the services of Khyla Brangman for the match against St Vincent after the midfielder was sent off for a second bookable offence early in the second half of that match,.

It also remains to be seen whether Aaliyah Nolan will be available after she was injured in the same game. The striker has in been in great form with three goals in her past two appearances.

If Bermuda top their group, they will advance to a play-off in which they will face one of the runners-up from League A.

The winner of that match will qualify for the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup, which will be held in the United States from February 20 to March 10, and will feature eight Concacaf and four South American teams.