GORDON WILLIAMS, Star writer
FLORIDA, United States:

Veteran Ricardo "Bibi" Gardner has declared his readiness to return to Jamaica's national football team if summoned for World Cup qualifiers scheduled to begin in the next several months.

Gardner said he has recovered from a knee injury, which sidelined him for a significant chunk of the last Barclays Premier League (BPL) season with club Bolton Wanderers. He was unavailable for Jamaica in the recently concluded CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States, choosing instead a chance for extended recuperation.

"I was just coming off injury so I just wanted to take it easy," Gardner said following a preseason practice with Bolton here on Wednesday.

But now Gardner and the Bolton coaching staff believe he is fit again. Gardner wants to add to more than 100 appearances for his country. The 32-year-old, who represented Jamaica as a teenager during the 1998 World Cup in France, is willing to go to battle again during the Reggae Boyz' campaign for a place at the Brazil 2014 tournament if called on.

"I'm still part of it," he said of the national team, "whenever they are ready for me to be available."

Although more than a decade has passed since he played in the World Cup, Gardner insists the desire to return to football's biggest show has not diminished. The taste of '98 still lingers.

unbelievable experience

"It's an unbelievable experience," he said. "Growing up as someone in Jamaica you didn't look forward to playing in the World Cup, so you wouldn't even say it.

"It's a dream, because you would just be ready to watch it on the 'telly'. And for us being a part of that is just a great experience. I can't even find the words to describe the feeling."

National coach Theodore Whitmore, Gardner's World Cup teammate, has consistently said that no player has been ruled out of places. But Jamaica's creditable showing at the Gold Cup, despite being bounced 2-0 in the quarter final round by the United States, indicates Gardner faces competition for a starting spot, especially since Demar Phillips put in a solid showing.

Gardner made appearances during the last part of Bolton's 2010/11 season after returning from a month-long loan spell to lower division team Preston North End where he was sent to regain match fitness. He is eager to secure significant playing time entering his 13th season at Bolton and has expressed doubts about his availability for some of Jamaica's friendly internationals leading up to the qualifiers as he tries to cement his club place. Jamaica's next game is on August 10 against China in Hefei. Bolton's season begins days later.

"I'm not sure," Gardner explained. "I mean, preseason, you're looking forward to a very important season. So my main focus is to get prepared for this coming season and then I'll see for the internationals."

The Americans, plus perennial rivals such as Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Canada will again be among the Boyz top rivals to represent the CONCACAF region at the 2014 World Cup.

US midfielder Stuart Holden, Gardner's Bolton teammate who also missed the Gold Cup with injury, said the two "joke about the USA vs Jamaica all the time." But he believes the Jamaica international is still capable of leading the Boyz' World Cup charge.

"Bibi is a great player," Holden said. "I'm sure he'll be back with the national team once he's fit."

Yet the American warned that the US focus would not be on Gardner alone if the two countries meet in qualifiers.

"We don't worry about individuals," Holden said laughing. "We worry more about the team."

Gardner is hoping to be among the Boyz causing most concern."

"Yeah," he said. "Definitely."