Barry Town United midfielder Theo Wharton had once again had the honour of representing St Kitts and Nevis on the international stage, returning to South Wales following an impressive window that has strengthened his country’s hopes of qualifying for the Gold Cup.

St Kitts and Nevis picked up victories against Bonaire and Grenada, alongside draws against Cuba, collecting eight points from a possible 12 to put themselves in a strong position heading into the next round of fixtures.

For Wharton, receiving another international call-up remains a moment of immense pride, both for himself and his family.

“It’s always a proud moment for me and the family every time I get called up. I don’t take it for granted,” he explained.

“I’m extremely grateful to have represented St Kitts so many times, and it’s always a great experience and a good test.”

Despite the positive results, Wharton believes there was even more to take from the international window, reflecting on the points dropped and the opportunities his side had to secure an even stronger position.

“It was a great window. Eight points from 12 has put us in a great position for qualifying for the Gold Cup,” he said.

“If I’m being completely honest, in our minds it should have been 12 from 12. We conceded poor goals in the first games against Cuba, then conceded from two avoidable set pieces in the second game, but that’s football. It’s all to play for in the next window.”

The international experience also presents a different challenge to the demands of domestic football, with players required to adapt to new environments, playing styles and conditions in a short space of time.

Wharton highlighted the heat as one of the biggest differences, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees, alongside the tactical adjustments needed when facing different opposition across the region.

“It’s a very different type of football. One factor, of course, is the heat! Playing at 30 degrees brings its own challenges,” he explained.

“Then you’ve got to adapt to different countries tactically in such a small turnaround. There’s, of course, some top players, so it’s always a great challenge coming up against some of the best players in the region, ranging from MLS to the Football League.”

Having gained valuable international experience against quality opposition, Wharton now returns his focus to Barry Town United and the challenges ahead in the Cymru Premier.

His experiences with St Kitts and Nevis provide another opportunity to develop his game, bringing the lessons learned on the international stage back to his club as the season continues.

With qualification for the Gold Cup still firmly in the picture, Wharton and his international teammates will be determined to build on their recent results when the next window arrives.