Shrewsbury Town's Aaron Pierre called up to international duty by Grenada

The 26-year-old, who joined from Northampton Town as Sam Ricketts' No.1 defensive recruit this summer, and will have three spells with the Caribbean nation between late August and November.

He will be absent for tough League One clashes against Ipswich and Peterborough at the end of August and beginning of September as Grenada face Belize in League B Group A.

Pierre, who has captained Grenada, will then miss the visit of Bury on October 12 as his nation face French Guiana before missing the trip to Doncaster on November 16 for a face off with St. Kitts & Nevis.

If Grenada, who are ranked 173rd in the world and 28th for the competition, qualify from their group of four then they will be involved in the knockout stages next March.

Ricketts explained that Pierre's involvement was something Town had prepared for. He said: "Aaron is a big player for them and he is very proud to play for Grenada.

"Unfortunately we will be missing him for those games but it is something we were aware of.

"Aaron was our number one pick to come into that spot so it was something that we had to accept would possibly happen.

"We have really good players who find themselves out of the team at the moment and who can come into the starting line-up."

Pierre, who is London-born, qualifies for the island nation through his parents. He was first capped by the Spice Boys in 2015 and won his latest cap earlier this year. He netted his one international goal against Bermuda in 2017.

The left-sided centre-back has made an impressive start to his Montgomery Waters Meadow career and was a big part of the side that achieved a fine clean sheet against Portsmouth on the opening day.

He has so far partnered Ro-Shaun Williams and Ethan Ebanks-Landell in the heart of Town's three-man defence. Omar Beckles will be Town's natural back-up option with Luke Waterfall linked with a move elsewhere.