- Lester and Martinovic named in Jersey’s NatWest Island Games squad, while Mourant misses out through injury.
- St Paul’s and Jersey Scottish provide 17 of the 20 players selected.
- Can Jersey claim top spot? Who would you have included? Have your say below.
JERSEY football manager Jimmy Reilly named his 20-man squad for this summer’s NatWest Island Games today, and he is on the hunt for gold.
Channel Islands champions St Paul’s and Premiership runners-up Jersey Scottish provide 17 players, with the remainder coming from Trinity (two) and St Ouen (one).
Two players who have been in good form of late have won places in the squad, with Kieran Lester – the Jersey Football Combination’s leading goal scorer (28 goals) – and Jersey Scottish winger Zeljko Martinovic, an under-21 cap, both getting the nod.
Reilly said: ‘Kieran has come into some good form of late; he has scored a lot of goals and he’s forced his way into the squad. Zeljko is also a late addition; he’s a young player with great potential and a possible match-winner in games.’
Reilly, who will select his Muratti squad of 16 from his Island Games squad, has set his goal high to win the Island Games tournament.
The former Muratti striker added: ‘Our target is to go all the way; it’s got be the same for any match or tournament – we’re going in to win and that’s the attitude of everyone.
‘Our focus will be to get everyone in the best condition as possible but we know it will be difficult because there are a number of good teams, including Guernsey and Gibraltar.’
Rozel Rovers midfielder Chris Mourant, who gained his first Island cap with a substitute’s appearance in the Muratti semi final win against Alderney, has missed out because of injury.
Reilly said: ‘Chris would have been in the squad but he will not recover from injury in time.
‘He recently had keyhole surgery in Southampton and is still on crutches due to an infection.
‘He simply does not have enough time to get himself match-fit in time for the Games and then face five games in six days.’
The squad will meet an Essex and Suffolk Border League side for a pre-Games friendly this Saturday at Springfield at 4 pm before facing the Royal Air Force at the same venue on Liberation Day.
Goalkeepers: Craig Fletcher, Euan Van der Vliet.
Defenders: James Scott, Stuart André, Calvin Weir, Luke Campbell, Jack Cannon.
Midfielders: Cavaghn Miley, Luke Watson, Jack Boyle, Luca Margaroli, Zeljko Martinovic, Max Thompson, Jonny Le Quesne, Jake Baker.
Forwards: Craig Russell, Rupert Murray, Kieran Lester, Daryl Wilson, Karl Hinds.
