Trinidad and Tobago want Nick DeLeon for Olympic Qualifying

If the sign of a good team is how many of its players are called for their national teams, then D.C. United is going to be a very good team. Obviously Dwyane DeRosario, Hamdi Salihi, Branko Boskovic, Dejan Jakovic, all play for their nationals teams, and if Chris Pontius can get back on his late season form, a callup would not be far off for him either. In addition, Perry Kitchen, Bill Hamid, and Andy Najar figure to suit up for their countries' Olympic qualifying efforts later this month. And if reports out of Trinidad and Tobago are true, the Soca Warriors want Nick DeLeon as a part of their Olympic qualifying team.

DeLeon's father, Leroy, is a former professional soccer player (including with the Washington Diplomats) and a former member of the Soca Warriors; in 2008, he was inducted into the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Hall of Fame. According to another article, Nick has already been contacted and is willing to play for Trinidad and Tobago, but is waiting on D.C. United to give permission.

If this is true, this would make a fourth player for United that would be out for Olympic qualifiers. However, unlike Andy Najar, Bill Hamid, and Perry Kitchen, DeLeon is not likely to make it out of the group stages. Trinidad and Tobago are in Group B, playing against Mexico, Honduras, and Panama, which makes it extremely likely that one (or both) of him and Najar will only miss the game against the Vancouver Whitecaps. As I've said in the past, I don't think that you can let some players go for Olympic qualifying without letting all of them go, unless it creates an extreme hardship for the team. Having a second winger out is pushing it, but I would still be fine with letting DeLeon go, if he gets the call.

What do you all think?