The Timbers front office announced that four Timbers players will be serving with their respective national teams during the FIFA international break between May 23 and June 16. The players mentioned in the press release were CB Futty Danso, GK Jake Gleeson, MF Lovel Palmer and MF Rodney Wallace.
Because of the long break from MLS competition, neither Lovel Palmer nor Rodney Wallace will miss MLS matches. Jake Gleeson will be unavailable for Saturday's match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, while Futty Danso won't rejoin the club in time to be ready for the Timbers' match against the LA Galaxy on June 17.
Futty and Wallace will both potentially be involved in meaningful matches, as The Gambia will be participating in qualifiers for both the 2014 World Cup and the 2013 African Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Costa Rica will be participating in World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and Guyana. New Zealand and Jamaica will only participate in friendlies this time around.
Steve Purdy spoke with Stumptown Footy editor Will Conwell after Monday's practice about the possibility of facing Wallace on the international stage. While he wasn't mentioned in the press release, Purdy says he will be joining El Salvador's national team for their qualifier against Costa Rica. The Timbers chose not release him for El Salvador's friendly tonight against Jake Gleeson's New Zealand side, but they have yet to announce his release for the qualifiers.
The full press release is included for your viewing pleasure after the jump.
FOUR TIMBERS CALLED UP FOR INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Danso, Gleeson, Palmer and Wallace recalled by national teams for upcoming matchesPORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers today announced that defender Futty Danso (The Gambia), goalkeeper Jake Gleeson (New Zealand), midfielder Lovel Palmer (Jamaica) and defender/midfielder Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) have been called up by their respective national teams for various upcoming international matches between May 23 and June 16.
Gleeson will miss the Timbers’ exhibition match against Valencia CF tonight as well as Saturday’s match against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC; he is expected to return Sunday. Palmer and Wallace leave for national team duty after the Vancouver match; neither player will miss a league match. Danso will miss one regular-season match, at the LA Galaxy on Sunday, June 17, while with The Gambia National Team.
Danso, 29, is set to join The Gambia National Team for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Morocco on Saturday, June 2, and at Tanzania on Saturday, June 9, as well as a 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier with Algeria on Saturday, June 16. Danso has been a part of The Gambia’s national team since 2010 and has five caps for the Scorpions. He was recently recalled for a 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria on Feb. 29.
Gleeson, 21, has been called up by the New Zealand National Team for a pair of U.S.-based friendlies in Texas. New Zealand faces El Salvador tonight at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston before taking on Honduras on Saturday at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. Gleeson, who has one cap with the senior national team, recently helped New Zealand’s U-23 National Team qualify for the 2012 London Olympics and has also represented New Zealand at the U-17 and U-20 levels.
Palmer, 27, will join the Jamaica National Team for an international friendly on Friday, June 1, against the Panama National Team in Panama City as part of home-and-home exhibitions between the two countries. Palmer has 19 international caps to his credit and has been a part of the Jamaica National Team pool since 2005, making his international debut for the Reggae Boyz at the age of 20. He was last called up by Jamaica for a friendly against Colombia on Sept. 6, 2011.
Wallace, 23, has been recalled by the Costa Rica National Team for a friendly against Guatemala on June 1, and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador on Friday, June 8, and Guyana on Tuesday, June 12. Wallace has five international caps and has scored two goals since making his debut for Costa Rica on Sept. 2, 2011. He started in his last appearance for Costa Rica, aiding in a 1-0 win over the Wales National Team on Feb. 29.-- visit www.portlandtimbers.com --