Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

Shavar Thomas - file

The long overdue return of national defender Shavar Thomas to the national side may have to take a while longer.

Twenty-five-year-old Thomas, who last represented the country in November of 2004, was yesterday recalled to the Reggae Boyz squad to play in the first leg of a home and away series against Canada on Monday September 4. He will not take up the offer as his club, Kansas City Wizards, has 'begged' the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) not to invite him this time.

In a telephone interview with STAR Sports yesterday, Thomas confirmed that he will not make the trip to Canada.

"Basically, the club had no problem with me coming to represent the county. It is just the situation that the club is in. We are battling for a play-off position right now and a number of defenders are injured so I think the club called the JFF and begged them not to have me involved this time," Thomas explained.

"We played a game last night (Sunday), we have a game on Wednesday and we go to Los Angeles on Friday for another game, so as you can see it is a crucial time for the club with stretched resources. Because of this, I think all parties have agreed that I will stay here in the US," he added.

While he understands his club's position and their valuation of him, Thomas was a bit disappointed that his return will have to wait another month.

"I really wanted to go because it has been quite a while since I have represented the country, and I was really looking forward to it. Maybe it is just working out that the next time I put on the national colours it is in the return game in front of the home fans so maybe it was meant to be that way," Thomas said looking towards the October 8 return match.

For Thomas, who has represented the country at Under-17, Under-20, which he captained to the 2001 World Championship in Argentina, and the Under-23 before forcing his way into the senior team, the recall was recognition of his consistency.

"It is not something I wrote off. I felt that if I kept doing what I was doing then I would be recalled." he said.

"Another way I looked at it too is that even though the federation owed me nothing, based on all that they had invested in me, at some point a recall would come. Now that I am back I am optimistic about the opportunity."

Full squad: Donovan Ricketts, Fabian Dawkins, Shawn Sawyers, Teafore Bennett, Richard McCallum, Ricardo Fuller, Demar Phillips, Kevin Lamey, Damion Stewart, Shavar Thomas, Desmond Breakenridge, Shane Crawford, Fabian Davis, Jermaine Johnson, Lovel Palmer, Omar Daley, Jermaine Taylor, Jason Morrison, Xavian Virgo, Khari Stephenson, Oneil Thompson and Tyrone Sawyers.