Time for Ogier to reveal trump card

NOW here's a question for you.

All things considered, who is the best striker in domestic senior football? The goal charts suggest it may be Jon Veron.

More to do with reputation because goals have been in short supply for the Sylvan this year, some will say it is Ryan Tippett.

Bels' fans will probably say its their prolific junior, Marc McGrath, or Irish newcomer Darragh Duffy, while down at Port Soif they will make a strong case for their free-scoring island under-21 player, Jamie Ferbrache.

I tend to think it may be none of them and the top striker available to Steve Ogier as he puts the finishing touches to his Muratti squad selection is from the team that props up the Priaulx League table.

Dale Garland's the name and I'm sure he would be only too delighted to answer an SOS from the island boss, who on the evidence of his Victory Cup squad selection is rather hampered by a lack of choice.

Whenever he plays for Rangers they have a chance of victory.

His 10 goals this season have come from eight games and who scored the goal which sunk North 1-0, a result which ultimately cost them the title, not the defeat by St Martin's last weekend? Garland was the man.

Mac Gallienne, his Rangers coach, would have no qualms about picking his top striker who makes himself available for his club the minute he steps back on Guernsey soil.

'He was phoning me from the harbour as soon as he arrived asking if we had any games coming up,' said Gallienne, one of his biggest fans.

'He's got pace, power and scores goals. He's also a pleasure to work with.

'I can't think of anybody better to bring off the bench with half-an-hour to go.'

The decathlete is now a far more powerful player than he was in his under-21 days (2001 and 2002) when he twice picked up a winners medal.

Go back a further season and remember Garland spearheaded the 6-0 destruction of Jersey at Junior Muratti level.

He's hardly let himself go to ruin since.

What's more, Phil Corbet had no qualms about picking the striker for under-21 and South-West Counties squads when Garland first headed off to Bath University four years ago.

So what's changed, if anything?

Ogier and Paul Ockleford, his number two, have some difficult decisions to make as they sit down and finalise the 18 they take to Jersey on 3 May.

But on moral grounds they should have no concerns about choosing Garland, even if he has not been involved in any of their squads this season.

He is fully-qualified to play for his native island and plays for his club at every opportunity, so his commitment cannot be questioned.

Its not the same as recalling, for instance, John Nobes who has declined to play club football virtually all season, or Michael Wilson, who has not matched the responsibilities the island coaching team expect of him.

It's well worth considering starting with Garland against Jersey, alongside Tippett, who remains our best back-to-goal striker.

At worst, I would have Garland on the bench to frighten Jersey with his pace and power in the closing stages. The fact that he is not involved in tomorrow's Victory Cup run-out against the ASSA Pays du Dropt side, should not come in to it.

On Monday afternoon Garland will be showing track and field followers just how quick he is over 200 and 400 metres around Foote's Lane.

They will see one very powerful runner, one which in football mode will have Jersey more worried than they currently are.

Other than their lack of attacking permutations, Ogier and Ockleford must be close to knowing their Muratti starting XI.

Other than perhaps Garland, I cannot see any late arrivals, although I am a little disappointed that Duffy has not been toyed with. The young Irishman looks a fine prospect and will, I expect, play himself into contention next season.