HE was unceremoniously ditched from the manifestly under-performing Reggae Boyz Gold Cup squad in Miami over two-and-a-half years go.

But he never lost faith in his countrymen, nor his beloved national team. Giant central defender Damion Stewart, more popularly known as ‘Stew Peas’, knew time was the ultimate master, and now the master has called.

Earlier this month, Stewart was invited to join the Reggae Boyz on their trip ‘Down Under’ to face New Zealand next Wednesday in an international friendly.

It will be the last on the FIFA calendar before the start of the semi-final phase of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying campaign, and it comes as no surprise because head coach Theodore Whitmore and his technical staff have been hinting at the need to bolster the pool of players as the series draws nearer.

“It’s always a pleasure playing for your country and from the outside looking in, I’ve always wanted to come back and play, but it was just a matter of time for that to have happened,” Stewart, now 31, told the Observer from his base in England on Monday.

“I’m happy to be back, I’m happy that I’ll be playing for Jamaica and it has always been in my thoughts to be a part of the setup, but I guess that time is now, so hopefully, I won’t be left out again.

“I’m excited to come back because the 2014 campaign is underway right now and we have qualifying games on June 8 and 12, so I’m looking forward to playing and helping my country qualify,” added the six-foot-three central defender who has been plying his trade in the English Leagues since departing Harbour View FC in 2005.

The long absence from the national senior set-up and the unsavoury manner in which he was kicked out of the team might have been heart-rending, but ‘Stew Peas’ was always prepared to look ahead.

“As a little boy growing up and even as a man now, I’ve always lived by my grandfather’s motto, ‘Forward ever, backward never’. So that incident is a thing of the past and I’ll just leave it as that. That’s water under the bridge and it’s a river and it keeps running away,” was his philosophical retort.

Now the former Ardenne High Manning Cup player and former Harbour View captain is looking to play a key role in guiding the Reggae Boyz on their ‘Road to Rio’ quest.

“I’ve always followed the progress of the team via the Observer online and other media,” he added before stating that he’s been preparing mentally and is ready to show what he can do, if given the chance.

In fact, Stewart, who is now on loan until the end of the season to League One side Notts County from Bristol City since January, explained that apart from the professional desire on wanting to play regularly, his request for the loan deal was because he wanted to be ready whenever Jamaica called. He has another year on his contract at Bristol City.

Things could have been some much better for the man valued at £750,000 on the transfermarkt.co.uk website, had timing not betrayed him a few season ago.

Stewart had a season on loan with Bradford in 2005-06, his first club in English football, before spending four seasons with Queen’s Park Rangers.

He moved to Ashton Gate in July 2010 (Bristol City) and has played 24 games, but only three of those have come this term.

After a steady, if unspectacular start, Stewart was a virtual regular in his first campaign and went on to enjoy a productive second season at Loftus Road.

But it was in his third full season that he soared at the club, bagging four goals in all competitions, including a crucial winner against Aston Villa.

His outstanding performances at the heart of the Rangers back four secured him a notable end of season double as he was named Supporters’ Player, and Players’ Player of the Year.

But for whatever reason, he opted for Bristol City and Queen’s Park Rangers duly gained promotion to the English Premier League the next season.

Despite all that has happened and even what could have been, Stewart is happy with his life in football at the moment.

“Yeah, I’m enjoying it because as a professional player all you want to do is play football and right now I’m getting the chance to do that.”

Notts County are currently in 15th place in the 24-team league, on 34 points from 27 matches. Charlton lead with 63 points, but Stewart believes if they are to push for a promotion play-off spot, they will have to improve their win percentage as against their losing percentage.

“That’s the only way they can go up via the play-offs, but hopefully, at the end of the season we will be there in the play-offs,” he said.