The Bermuda Football Association has named a squad of 23 to represent Bermuda Under-18 in two friendly internationals against United States Under-17 this month.

The matches will be played on February 20 and 22 at the Americans’ training base in Bradenton, Florida, located at the IMG Academy complex that houses the United States Under-17 residential programme.

Bermuda has been invited to provide international opposition on the eve of the Americans’ participation in the final Under-17 Concacaf Championships and World Cup qualifying tournament to be played from February 27 to March 15.

Bermuda Under-18 have previous knowledge of the American youngsters, with both having played in the Mexico Cup of Nations under-16 tournament last summer. Bermuda, coached by Andrew Bascome, were grouped with Portugal, Colombia and Chile, and were competitive against each despite leaving the tournament pointless after three 2-0 defeats.

Richard Todd, the BFA national academy director, will lead the coaching staff along with Don Vickers and Kyle Lightbourne, the Robin Hood coach, who has been assisting with training preparations.

The squad selected will feature a combination of players based in Bermuda, the US and Britain as the BFA continues preparations for the Caribbean Championships and Concacaf Championships at under-20 level.

Among those being looked at an earlier age is Jaquari Paynter, who has been drafted into the squad from the under-15 set-up with a view to him gaining international experience before the Concacaf Under-15 Championship this summer in the Cayman Islands.

Bermuda Under-18 leave for Florida on February 18 and return five days later. They will continue training with sessions at BFA Field in Prospect, today from 7pm to 8.30pm, Wednesday from 6.15am to 7.15am and then again from 5.30pm to 7pm, and Friday from 7pm to 8.30pm.