Parker out of Antigua squad

JOSH PARKER: staying put

JOSH Parker won't be depriving Athletic of his services by jetting off to play for Antigua in the coming months.

The jet-heeled winger was involved with his national squad in the middle of pre-season, resulting in two separate trial spells with the club which resulted in his being awarded a permanent contract after impressing manager Paul Dickov.

But Parker is not in a 36-strong training squad named ahead of CONCACAF qualification matches for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at home and away to Curacao (September 2 and October 7 respectively), and away and at home to the US Virgin Islands (September 6 and October 11).

Nor will he feature in home and away games against Haiti (November 11 and November 15).