Southend United's out-of-favour striker Neville Roach has flown almost 5,000 miles in an amazing attempt to hit the World Cup trail.

Roach has answered a surprise international call-up from the Cayman Islands and plays in a trial-match today, hoping to secure a place in his adopted nations' quest for a shot at the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea.

And if the 22-year-old forward impresses the watching Caribbean coaches he could make a baptism of fire in the Caymans' crucial World Cup qualifying clash with Cuba on Sunday.

"This whole situation has come right out of the blue, but could be just what Neville needs," said Southend manager Alan Little.

"Neville's not been playing well for us and has asked for a transfer, but this opportunity could give him a lift and help restore his appetite.

"It's a long way to go, but this is the chance of a lifetime for Neville to play in a glamorous part of the world and it would have been very hard for me to stop him flying out there."

However, Little revealed that Roach wasn't the only Roots Hall star targetted by Cayman scouts, who also tried to lure Blues' 14-goal top-scorer Martin Carruthers to the paradise island.

"They wanted Martin as well, but he realises he has got a job to do here at Southend with us and turned down their advances," added Little.

"With Neil Tolson out injured, Martin is our only other main striker and there is no way we could have afforded to lose him."

Little also called on FIFA, the governing body of world-wide soccer, to improve the guidelines regarding last-gasp international call-ups.

"These players are under contract to their clubs and we need to be given some protection against losing their services," said Little.

"Rules need to be drawn up to prevent players being called away at the drop of a hat, just because they've got a distant parental link to some obscure country thousands of miles from home.

"If teams like the Cayman Islands want to borrow our players we should be notified of the possibility at the start of the season, not at the last minute."

* The Cayman Islands has a population of less than 40,000 people and their national football team is ranked 149th in the world.

A host of English based players, ranging from Fulham's £2million rated hitman Barry Hayles to Bognor Regis' Alec Masson, have been invited to join the Caymans' quest for World Cup glory, lured by an alleged £70,000 a man pay-day.

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