GLYN DYER has won his fight to be fit for Saturday’s under-21 Muratti.
The talented little left winger from North has been out for six weeks after picking up a hamstring strain during his side’s 5-0 defeat at St Paul’s in the Wheway Cup.
It was Dyer’s 20th birthday on Saturday, which also saw him come on for the last 17 minutes of North’s 2-0 win over Sylvans.
He said he came through the test well and has been named in new U-21s’ coach Martyn de Garis’ squad to face Jersey at Springfield.
‘I would have liked longer but Digger [de Garis] said no because he didn’t want me overdoing it,’ said Dyer (pictured).
‘I feel good and I didn’t feel it at all. That’s a good sign.’
If Dyer does get on the pitch, he will win his second U-21 cap.
‘I definitely can’t wait to play against Jersey,’ said the apprentice carpenter.
Another Guernsey star fighting to be fit in time for the U-21s’ big game of the year is Ben Coulter.
The 19-year-old St Martin’s central midfielder pulled his groin during his team’s 2-0 defeat of Sylvans on Wednesday 29 October.
He was then struck with illness last week, but he did feature in the second half of Saints’ 2-2 draw with Bels.
Like Dyer, Coulter said he is winning the battle to be fit for Saturday.
‘It’s sound. I should be all right,’ he said.
‘I can’t wait, especially as it’s in Jersey.’
De Garis is naturally happy that two of his best players are available.
‘They are good players and they are nearly there,’ he said.
‘It’s a case of looking after them, which is what their clubs have been doing as well, which is good.’
While you would expect to see Dyer and Coulter’s names on the squad sheet, it was certainly a surprise to see Garry Dodd’s in the squad released yesterday.
Dodd has hardly played any football this season as he concentrates on table tennis. Last month, he competed in the Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune, India.
De Garis defended his decision to include Dodd, who is unlikely to be match fit, having played only twice, but is training regularly.
‘He’s naturally fit anyway and his match fitness is nearly there,’ he said.
There have been three changes from de Garis’ original squad with Bels’ striker Robbie Williams and goalkeeper Scott Rowe being omitted, along with Sylvans’ Matt Le Prevost.
De Garis said the trio had been dropped for disciplinary reasons and refused to go any further into the matter.
‘I’m very happy with the squad,’ was all de Garis would say.ascoones@guernsey-press.com
Article posted on 18th November, 2008 - 2.30pm
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