Speid talks up Marshall CPL move

Cavalier technical director Rudolph Speid says Alex Marshall's move to Halifax Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) will give his talent good exposure.

Marshall was selected first overall by the club in the CPL draft held on December 20 and will be coached by former Trinidad and Tobago and Canada head coach Stephen Hart.

"Alex is one of the most talented players Jamaica has ever produced," Speid said. "He should be there. He should be playing overseas.

"Joining a league like that, although it's not a top league, it's a league that's just [starting]. They will record the matches, so in a year or two, the amount of footage that Alex will have, that is what I think will help him a lot."

Wanderers will look to improve on their league position from their first season where they finished bottom of the table with 28 points. Forge FC, from Ontario, are the defending champions and play is expected to begin in late April.

Marshall has had to be patient in getting a chance to play overseas after having gone on trial in Europe on two separate occasions. He went on a six-week stint to German second division club St Pauli in 2016 and got another opportunity to show his talent in Greece for top flight club Aris Thessaloniki. Both trials did not result in permanent moves, with Marshall saying he did not have the opportunity to train with the Greek club. He had been previously linked to English clubs in the past, including Aston Villa.

Marshall has been part of the Cavalier system since 2014, and his 11 goals last season assisted in the club's run to the Red Stripe Premier League semi-final. He has made nine appearances for Cavalier so far this campaign, scoring three goals and featured for the Jamaican senior team eight times. Marshall's teammate Nicholas Hamilton is reportedly on his way to the CPL with York9 FC, based in Toronto.