Combination Division I points at Springfield.
The parish club team have a quartet of leading players missing, three because of suspension and one absent from of the Island, as they bid to take over the leadership of the division from Jersey Scottish.Missing are midfielders, Lee Jones and Peter Edwards and defenders James Hayward and Footballer of the Year David Lloyd, the latter who is on holiday.Trinity joint-manager Joe Morley has every confidence in his squad’s ability and he hope they will show their strong character and win the game to maintain their title challenge.Morley said: ‘We want to win all our games and this game is no different to any other we play.
Portuguese are always tough opponents, we know that and we have prepared well and hopefully we will defeat them.’I’ve always said that Division I football is a squad effort and I’ve 18 or 19 players all ready to play for the first team.
Those on the fringe are top of the Reserves Division and I’m expecting those who will come in to play as well as those who will be missing.’Portuguese, who have lost just once in their last seven Combination matches, are expected to be at full-strength.Player-manager José-Manuel Vieira said: ‘My only worry is our fitness.
I’m not sure what shape the players will return in after their Christmas and New Year breaks.’Because many have been away and only returned to the Island at the weekend we’ve not had a training session since just before Christmas.’We were disappointing in our last game, a 1-0 defeat by Jersey Wanderers, and I want us to put that result behind us.
I want us to return to the form we were in for the games before that.’There is no pressure on us tonight, Trinity are looking to retain the title so the pressure is on them to win.’Kick-off at Springfield is at 7.30 pm.
