HEARTBROKEN Reds hotshot Damien Markman has been offered hope of resurrecting an international career which looked to have been grounded before it began.

The 30-year-old Redditch United striker was lining up against Solihull Moors at the Valley Stadium on Saturday when he should have been jetting off to play in a World Cup qualifier for Anguilla.

Markman was among a group of 15 players based in England who were told they would be heading to the Caribbean for the back-to-back qualifiers with El Salvador.

The first leg, in San Salvador, takes place a week on Wednesday with the return - to be staged in Houston because there are no grounds on Anguilla big enough to cope with the demand - is on March 26.

But the forward's hopes of making his World Cup bow were dashed when he was cut from the squad for the first leg. He thought it was because he had asked about financial assistance but the Anguillan FA revealed the call-up' letters had not been officially approved.

Damien Hughes, general secretary of the Anguillan FA, told the Advertiser: "Scott Cooper was charged with one responsibility and that was to find players who would qualify as Anguillans. They would then be invited to play by the Anguillan FA.

"We began to receive information that certain players had received letters saying they had actually been selected and that was not the case. But we noticed that the letters had not been written on official Anguillan FA letterheads.

"We were not happy with the situation and wrote to Mr Cooper telling him he was relieved of his duties."

"Anguilla was my granddad's country and I was delighted to be called up," the former Sutton Coldfield striker explained.

"I had the letter from the Anguilla Football Association and even though they then said just seven players from England would be travelling, I was still told I would be one of them."

Markman spent last season recovering from a knee operation and has just made it back into the Redditch side after a groin strain picked up during a loan spell with neighbours Bromsgrove Rovers.

But he was determined to make the most of his call-up, albeit for a side ranked 198 in the latest FIFA World rankings - a place below San Marino and 186 below England.

"I gave up my job so that I could train every day to get into shape for my country," Markman added. "I went along to the first meeting of the players at Leicester City and we have been training down in Hayes."

The situation changed when Cooper lost his job as first-team coach to be replaced by Kerthney Carty - a coach with Crystal Palace's junior sides and manager of Maidenhead United's Reserves.

"I have a girlfriend and a young child and asked if they would take care of them while I was away," the striker explained. "I wanted them to pay the rent as I would not be here to look after them.

"I also wanted to know what would happen if I got injured while playing in one of the qualifiers. I didn't want paying, I would play for my country for nothing, but I wanted to make sure my family were looked after."

Markman was told last week that he was no longer part of Anguilla's plans and the English-based players flew out on Saturday with the Redditch striker still reeling.

"I can't believe what they've done," he added. "It's absolutely crushed me and I admit I cried when I found out."

But Hughes offered a glimmer of hope to the United forward this week when he said: "We are aware of Damien Markman and he could still play for us. We have the second leg against El Salvador in March and no position is guaranteed."