Mussels keeper Taylor set for World Cup qualifying games

Montserrat are ranked 170 in the world and take on Curacao in the first round qualifying games over two legs. The first leg is in Curacao on March 27, before the second leg takes place on March 31.

The winners are then set to take on Cuba in two more qualifying games, before the winners of that tie get to the World Cup group stage qualifiers, along with the likes of Mexico and the USA.

Taylor, a PE teacher and football coach in London, has two caps for his country, when he kept clean sheets in the qualifying stages of the 2014 Caribbean Cup.

The 23-year-old, who joined Sussex County League side Shoreham from Cray Wanderers this season, cannot wait to represent his country again and said: “It’s brilliant and I can’t wait.

“We have a lot of qualifying games until we can play the likes of America and Mexico in the qualifying group stages. We’re ranked higher than San Marino, for example, who go straight into the qualifying groups and play the likes of England, Italy and Germany.

“It’s going to be great, though. The squad has a training camp at St George’s Park next week and that will help build confidence going into the qualifying games as we’ve got a strong squad.”

Mussels chairman Stuart Slaney said: “The club are chuffed to bits for Nick and it’s good for the County League as well. I don’t know if a player from the County League has ever been called up to represent his national team before.

“It just goes to show that you don’t have to be playing at League One, League Two or even Ryman level to get recognition and to play for your national side.

“It’s a big boost for the club and we wish Nick all the best.”