North Village Rams' talismanic striker, Ralph 'Gumbo' Bean Jr., is back in the national team fold after an extended time in personal exile from the side.

The return of the striker will be a welcome addition to the team, along with Rams attack minded midfielder Keith Jennings, who is also coming back out to represent his country.

"I'm glad to be back involved with the national team," said Bean.

"I speak regularly with players and executives, so even when not directly involved, I am still usually up to speed with what is going on.

"Things seem to be moving in a positive direction and at the end of the day, that is the most important thing."

Bean, along with his Rams teammates, put to bed PHC's 'Triple Crown' hopes last month with the prolific marksmen notching a hat-trick on the 'carpet'.

And with upcoming fixtures against Barbados, a team that Bermuda's next World Cup opponents, Trinidad and Tobago, swept aside last week three nil, the match will give an assessment of how far along the side have come.

"My last significant run with the national team was during the 2004 World Cup qualifying campaign.

"That was actually a nine month campaign, which ended when we lost on aggregate against El Salvador.

"We know that we are faced with a difficult task and I look forward to the challenge. The only way to approach it really is to train hard so that you are both mentally and physically prepared.

The national scene has had many drastic changes over the past few years, yet Bean feels the direction of the national programme is a positive one.

"There have been so many changes over the last couple of years that it would be extremely difficult to make a general observation of how we have progressed, but it all seems to be running smoothly and that's what you need from a national stand point.

"I know that things are going pretty well right now for the Hogges and with the same core group of players being involved, it would make sense that the same will be true for the national team.

With Keith Tucker quitting the post of coach of Bermuda's national team last week, Somerset Eagles player/coach Kenny Thompson has returned to take the reins and guide Bermuda until the end of the Digicel Cup.

Thompson made no qualms about allowing the two players back to the squad, and described them as valuable assets.

"Both players are very technical and they have shown over the past few seasons they are impact players," he said.

"I believe they have the ingredients to assist the national team in achieving quality performances."