John Barry Nusum looks set to miss out on making his Crystal Palace Baltimore debut against his former team Bermuda Hogges having only returned to full training this week.

Nusum, who quit the Hogges to join USA Eagles as a full-time professional, has recovered from the torn thigh muscle injury that ruled him out of Philadelphia Kixx's campaign climax in the National Indoor Soccer League.

But the big striker admits he's still striving for match fitness and doesn't expect to be involved against his old club who visit USA Eagles for their season curtain raiser tonight.

"I've actually only just returned to full training so I don't expect to be involved against the Hogges," said Nusum. "Obviously it's up to the coach as to who plays but as I only started training on Wednesday I don't think I'll be playing."

"I've been at the club for a few weeks now and I've been busy in rehab and I felt a little sore after my first training session."

As far as the Bermuda international is concerned, tonight's encounter is simply just another match on the USL-D2 fixture calendar, although he said he was looking forward to catching up with his ex-Hogges team-mates.

"I've heard the Hogges have made a few changes and Blenn Bean has kept me informed of what's going on," Nusum said. "Obviously I'll be at the game and it will be good to meet up with some of the boys.

"It's not a game I'd put in my diary or anything. It's just another game and we'll play Hogges again this season anyway.

"The Hogges are always going to be a good team because they've got some good players and they'll be competitive this season."

USA Eagles opened their season with a goalless draw at home against Pittsburgh Riverhounds last week – a match Nusum reckons they could have won.

"I watched our game against Pittsburgh Riverhounds and I thought we looked like we're in good shape," he said. "It was one of those games when we could have jumped up on them but in the end we had to settle for a draw."

Nusum was Hogges' big name signing at the start of last season with the 28-year-old joining on loan from the Kixx. He said that USA Eagles' feeder club status for English Championship team Crystal Palace was a key factor behind his decision to walk away from his country's semi-pro franchise.

Hogges coach Kyle Lightbourne believes Nusum's move to USL-D2 powerhouse USA Eagles shows that the local franchise can be a springboard for ambitious players.

"Football is about winning but there are different ways of measuring success," he said. "For us we look at John Barry who was playing for us and had two great games against Crystal Palace and got a call from them.

"Even though he has been playing abroad for quite some time if it wasn't for the Hogges he may have never got the chance he has now."

The Hogges take on USA Eagles tonight at 8.30 p.m. (Bermuda time) at the University of Maryland. Tomorrow evening they play Real Maryland Monarchs at the Richard Montgomery HS at 7 p.m. (Bermuda time).

Hogges' players to watch

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