UK-based midfielder Damon Ming has been ruled out of Bermuda?s Digicel Cup plans at the 11th hour due to injury, can reveal.

Ming?s name was conspicuously missing from a final team of 20 players announced last night that depart for Barbados tomorrow to compete for the right to advance to January?s Digicel Cup finals in Trinidad and Tobago.

The diminutive midfielder injured an ankle during Hayes? 1-0 win earlier in the week against Burnham, and failed a late fitness test.

National coach Kyle Lightbourne said he would?ve preferred to have had the player?s services at his disposal for the upcoming Digicel commitment, but insisted the show must go on.

?Obviously Damon is going to be missed. He has loads and loads of pace and his experience from playing over in England will also be missed,? Lightbourne added.

Ming now joins injured teenaged striker Keishen Bean (groin) on the team?s casualty list. However, his absence could very well open the door for others included among the coach?s final squad that will travel to the Caribbean tomorrow.

In all the team has undergone subtle changes from the one that competed in September in the US Virgin Islands with left-sided player Logan Alexander, PHC skipper Blenn Bean and in-form Boulevard striker Shaki Crockwell coming in to replace Michael Parsons, Jemieko Jennings (excused for personal reasons) and teenager Bean.

Bermuda take on St.Vincent & the Grenadines in their opening Digicel Cup Group G contest on Sunday in St.Michael?s.

Apart from the absences of Ming, Bean and Jemieko Jennings, on paper Bermuda?s squad is just about as good as it gets.

And while the Island?s team are sure to be put to the test next week, coach Lightbourne is confident they can achieve their objectives if they can adhere to the game plan, match their rivals in intensity and remain healthy throughout the gruelling five-day campaign.

?We are definitely going to have to fight for it, make no mistake about that,? was the way Lightbourne put it last night at the National Sports Centre (NSC).

?But the players all know what?s at stake and the how difficult it?s going to be. This nucleus of players have now been together for quite some time and have been very loyal to the programme. And the balance of the team seems to be fairly good, although ideally we would like to have a bigger squad.?

Since taking over the helm of the national programme, Lightbourne says he has noticed a marked improvement among some of the squad?s members.

?I think down in St.Thomas (US Virgin Islands) they fought and played very hard, and that?s what impressed me most . . . the way they displayed that fighting spirit which is what you need when things are not going well,? he said.

Although captain Jennings will miss Sunday?s opener against St.Vincent, Lightbourne remains optimistic the team will get the job completed in his absence. ?Kentoine is one of our most senior players who has done well for Bermuda over the years,? he added.

?We hope we don?t miss him in the first game because obviously he comes with a lot of experience. But if the team does well we won?t hesitate to keep him on the sidelines.?

As for the team?s new additions, in particular Crockwell, Lightbourne said: ?I?ve been speaking to Shaki for quite some time now. And he?s always shown the will to play for Bermuda and hopefully he will get his opportunity to do well and shine in Barbados. And it?s also good to have Blenn (Bean) and Logan (Alexander) back in the team.?

Lightbourne has yet to decide what formation to go with, but early indications suggest the former Coventry City striker could go with a 4-4-2 set up in Sunday?s opener.

The national squad depart for Barbados via New York early tomorrow morning and are due to arrive in the Caribbean shortly after 5 p.m. local time.

Kentoine Jennings (captain),Nigel Burgess (goalkeeper), Timmy Figureido (goalkeeper),Logan Alexander, Darius Cox, Kevin Richards, Stanton Lewis, Dennis Zuill, Blenn Bean, Kwame Steede, Domico Coddington, Aljame Zuill, Shaki Crockwell, Devaughn Degraff, John Barry Nusum, Khano Smith, Tyrell Burgess, Keith Jennings, Jelani Scott, Stephen Astwood.