Shakes scored in his second appearance for Guyana

Ebbsfleet United forward Ricky Shakes says his first international caps for Guyana will enhance his game.

The 26 year-old played in World Cup qualifiers against Barbados and then Bermuda, a game in which he scored.

Shakes told BBC Radio Kent: "It will increase my confidence and make me work had for the team and myself.

"I'm also representing the club. It says Ricky Shakes, Ebbsfleet, international footballer. That's amazing for me and the club."

Shakes' appearances for Guyana are not his first full internationals. In 2005 he represented Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly against Iceland.

DID YOU KNOW? Guyana are ranked 97th in the world

Shakes explained: "It was just before they went to the World Cup when they were trying out a squad.

"As it was five years since that happened I am eligible to play for Guyana because my dad is Guyanese. They managed to call me up and I thought it's a good opportunity for Guyana to get to the World Cup so I chose that.

"It was difficult to get me over there with the paperwork because my dad's name changed because he was adopted."

But having become a local hero for his goal in his second appearance, Shakes now has a taste for world cup qualifiers.

"It was incredible, you see the other side of the world and how they play," he said.

"Playing in a big stadium against Barbados and playing games that really matter to that country, it's a very good experience.

"We're one point above Trinidad & Tobago and all we have got to do is win one of the two games against them. Then we are through to the next round into the group with Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica so these two games in November are very important for the country."

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