Two players affiliated with English Premiere League clubs have expressed interest in joining the Philippine Team that will see action in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in May.

The Philippine Football Federation is keen on tapping James Hall of Everton and goalkeeper Neal Etheridge, a reserve of London-based Fulham, to beef up the national side that will vie against Bhutan, Tajikistan and Brunei in the May 13-20 tournament to be held in Iloilo City and Barotac Nuevo town.

Both the Glasgow-born Hall, who signed a one-year contract with Everton last year, and Etheridge, 18, have Filipino mothers, Philippine Football Federation president Mari Martinez said.

Martinez told the DAILY STAR that Everton has appeared receptive to his request for the services of Hall, who is currently recovering from a knee injury.

Martinez said he expects the club’s formal response this week.

The PFF president also said he doesn’t see any problem related to the release of the 6-foot-3 Etheridge, whose parents are currently processing his Philippine passport.

The other foreign-based players in the squad are brothers Phil and James Younghusband, midfielder Chris Greatwich and defender Anton Del Rosario.

National coach Norman Fegidero, who is currently overseeing the RP booters’ training camp in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, welcomed the development and expressed optimism that the players can join camp as soon as possible to make the team more cohesive for the tournament.

Phil Younghusband, still under contract with London-based Chelsea Football Club, will join the national squad on April 27.

His older brother, James, is arriving in Iloilo City today, to fight for his spot in the team. Fegidero said he has already cut Filipino-American midfielder Henry Brauner from the squad.

Also fighting for spots in the team are Negrense keepers Edmundo Mercado, Edward Sacapaño and Archie Bayquin, midfielder-strikers Floriano Pasilan Jr., Robert Cañedo and Arnie Pasinabo, defenders Lemuel Unabia, Joel Ballo-Allo and Alejandro Montelibano.

Greatwich, who captained the national team in the Asean Football Championships in Bangkok, following the absence of Aly Borromeo due to injury, has yet to confirm the exact date of his arrival in the country.

Phil Younghusband, who will be out of contract with Chelsea this May, and Greatwich combined for eight goals during the Asean Qualifiers in Bacolod City in 2006.

Also returning for another tour of duty is rightback Del Rosario, who scored a stunning 30-yard free kick against Brunei in a 4-1 win that clinched qualification for the nationals.

Fegidero, who also coaches West Negros University, said the national team will play tune-up matches against the Western Visayas PRISAA squad on April 1 at Barotac Nuevo, before embarking on a Visayas tour from April 8-10.

The key stops in the tour include San Carlos City, Dumaguete City, Cebu City and Bacolod City.*CPT

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