Assan Jatta left out of Scorpions squad

Gambia and SK Lierse embattled striker, Assan Jatta, commonly known as Bierhoff, has been dropped from Scorpions provisional squad for Gambia's home match against Liberia in the 2010 joint World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier.

Gambia's European coach, Paul Put invited 20 professional players for the crucial tie scheduled for Saturday, September 6, and Jatta who recently had an unsuccessful trial with America's MLS giants, FC Dallas, failed to make the list.

Coach Paul Put backed his decision with the fact that the player has not been playing active football for the past months.

"The match against Liberia is a fixture you can't afford to lose. So you need to select players who are up to the task and I need only eighteen players for the match.
Assan Jatta is not part of the plan because he has not been playing active football," revealed Paul Put when he was asked why the former Steve Biko forward, who is currently in town, has not joined the Scorpions camp.

The provisional list includes two newcomers in Omar Koroma, who recently signed a two-year contract with Portsmouth, and former England youth striker, Cherno Samba, and the Belgian insists no player should expect an automatic place in the squad.

"The players will have to prove to me on the training ground that they deserve a place  in the squad because there is no fixed shirt for any player," he told Observer Sports.

The Scorpions need Saturday's match against the Lone Star as much as they need the final qualifier tie against the Terenga Lions of Senegal in their quest for a place in the 2010 finals.

The Gambia currently lie third with 5 points in Group 6, which is led by Senegal with 8 points. Algeria are second with 6 points, while Liberia lie at the bottom with only 2 points.