SHANDON Baptiste is hoping a good year gets even better tonight as the Oxford United teenager eyes an international debut.
The midfielder has been called up for the first time by Grenada, who face Panama in a friendly at St George’s.
Baptiste, who was born on the Caribbean island before moving to the UK when he was three, has already earned a first professional contract and made his senior debut for the U’s this year.
A maiden call-up for his country is the next step, although when the email arrived the 19-year-old admitted to thinking it was a wind-up at first.
He said: “I just thought ‘are they actually asking for me to play?’ “I’ve never had something like that before, so it was ‘wow, this is big’.
“To even get called up means a lot, so to play would be a dream come true.
“Everyone dreams of playing for their country.
“It will be good to see what international players are like.
“Panama have just qualified for the World Cup, so just to play against them will be a good experience.
“It’s been a good year, but I’m just trying to stay focused and get even more success when I come back, by trying to get in the first team again.”
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