Tre Ming is confident of making a full recovery in time to challenge for a place in Bermuda’s team for the Concacaf Gold Cup this summer.

The PHC Zebras midfielder underwent minor knee surgery last month, just days after his club won a record eleventh Premier Division title.

“I start rehabilitation today and my projected return is for six weeks,” Ming said.

“I’m walking without a cane and without a limp, and I’m ready to start running and get back fit.

“The main thing is to get my knee stronger. Without a doubt, I will be declared fit and match ready for the Gold Cup.

“Not being a part of that historic game [against Dominican Republic in Bermuda’s final Nations League qualifier last month] is pushing me even more.”

The TN Tatem Middle School teacher picked up the injury during PHC’s first league meeting with Robin Hood at PHC Field last October. He played on with the injury by heavily wrapping his knee until finally undergoing surgery.

His last appearance for PHC was against Hood in the return league fixture at Goose Gosling Field last month.

Bermuda beat the Dominican Republic 3-1 in Santiago to secure the island’s place at the Gold Cup for the first time.

“It’s just fulfilling to know we have the players ready to go to war for the country,” said Ming, who was ruled out of the match in any case through suspension after picking up two bookings.

“Just watching them play made me feel better. They really went out there and fought especially away from home where we usually struggle.

“We like to call ourselves the ‘Golden Generation’. We like to grow on that and Lighty [coach Kyle Lightbourne] stresses all the time that this is just the beginning.

“We really feel that, too, because we have the right nucleus of players.”

The Gold Cup, which will be held from June 15 to July 7 in the United States and Caribbean, is a biennial competition for teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The draw will be made in Los Angeles on April 10.

“Playing in the Gold Cup would mean the world because I’d be able to really prove myself on an international scale, not just for myself but for us as amateur footballers trying to go to the next level.”

Bermuda finished fifth in the qualifying standings and have been drawn against Mexico and Panama in group B of League A of that competition.

“The guys didn’t care who we get,” the 24-year-old said. “We were just happy that we are even in that conversation. This is what you live to play for.”

The group phase matches will be played during three Fifa international windows: September 6 to 11, October 7 to 15 and November 11-19. Bermuda will face each opponent twice, home and away.