Scottish footballer Joshua Bradley-Hurst is heading for Sri Lanka for a week-long training camp with the possibility of representing the South Asian nation.
The rookie goalkeeper was born in Sri Lanka before moving to Scotland as a six-year-old.
Following a game and a half for Clyde this season, Sri Lankan selectors have invited the 20-year-old to a week-long training assessment for potential cap stars.
If he makes the grade he would become the first Bully Wee internationalist since club legend Harry Hood in 1967 – but faces an 11,000-mile round trip to prove his credentials in the cricket-mad country.
“It’s part of my identity and I’ve always had a dream that one day I would play for Sri Lanka. My aim was actually to get a run of games in the Clyde team then contact them and let them know I was eligible but they actually reached out first and invited me to the camp. I don’t know too much about the other players but I’m confident in my own ability and believe I’m good enough to play and win caps.”
Visiting the tropical climes of Sri Lanka for the first time since he left, Bradley-Hurst insists he is not heading for a holiday when returning to his roots.
“It’s a week-long training camp for the national team coaches to have a close look at some new players with an eye on the future. It won’t be a holiday by any means, I’ll be putting in lots of hard work when I’m over there. If all goes well and I impress hopefully I’ll be considered in the national squad for their next games, he told his club website.
“It’s very exciting and it means a lot to me and my family; my mum is Scottish and my dad English and they worked there for a number of years. A lot of my happiest memories were made there but then out of the blue we had to move to Scotland as my mum’s mum became unwell,” he added. (NewsWire)
