BBC- Goalkeeper Nick Townsend has turned down international action this week to stay with Newport County for their League Two campaign.
Townsend, 30, has decided to stay at home rather than add to his 11 caps with Antigua and Barbuda.
Newport head coach Nelson Jardim confirmed: “Nick has decided not to go.
“We always leave that down to the players. He has done that in the past, he has decided not to go for the good of the team, so we have one more option.”
Solihull-born Townsend qualifies for Antigua and Barbuda through his grandfather. Because of names missing on birth certificates, it took four years to prove his eligibility and involved DNA tests to establish his heritage.
He made his Antigua and Barbuda debut against Barbados in 2022 and also rejected an international call last term in order to retain his place in the Exiles team.
Townsend played for the Benna Boys last month, as they suffered successive 5-0 defeats at the hands of the Dominican Republic in the CONCACAF Nations League.
In this international break, Townsend will miss Nations League games in Bermuda on Saturday and at home to Dominica on Tuesday, 19 January.
Townsend is the undoubted number one at Newport, ahead of 23-year-old Jacob Carney.
It will be a big boost for Jardim to have the former Birmingham City stopper for Saturday’s League Two home game against Grimsby Town.
After an encouraging start to the campaign, Newport have won just one out of their last six League Two encounters, losing 2-1 at Tranmere last Saturday.
Townsend is also available for Tuesday night’s Bristol Street Motors EFL Trophy game at Reading.
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If it is not an injury, then he should never play for this great country again. I would give an arm and a leg to represent Antigua & Barbuda. What an honour.
Do you know what happened to peter reds?
Antigua and Barbuda Football Association continues to FAIL/DISAPPOINT our Home Grown Talented Players.
Inserting players from outside, who do not play in OUR Domestic League is a JACK ASS CONCEPT, that shall CONTINUE TO FAIL OVER AND OVER AGAIN !👎👎
Stay where you at dude, your not missing anything playing for these jokers…
Every country in the world recruits players from all over the world who has their roots buried in our beautiful country…. Like everything else, we scream nationalisation but fail to include our family members in the Diaspora…. I do not doubt our home grown players are talented, I am however disappointed that our national Association has not seen it fit to appoint a permanent coach, And have our technical director work on proper programs that will give the part time coach the direction he needs…. We are playing against superior opposition who have players, playing in international domestic leagues who have been drilled from 5/6 yrs what being a professional is…. Our Amateur players will never be able to hold their own against these teams…. Jamaica and Trinidad made it to the world Cup with international players who were born in other countries and played in leagues where they were born…. Sad that we cannot see the benefits of including the international players who were born outside of Antigua and Barbuda and anyone who thinks they bring nothing to our set up is super delusional…. Grow up and forget the small island mentality
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