Ricketts to captain strong Reggae Boyz line up
PANAMA CITY, Panama — Jamaica have decided to go with “a strong” starting 11 for tonight’s friendly international at the Romel Fernandez Stadium here.
Game time is 9:00 pm.
Veteran goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts will lead the team which includes Xavian Virgo, Demar Phillips, Claude Davis, Damion Stewart, Rohan Reid, Rodolph Austin, Jevaughn Watson, Dane Richards, Ryan Johnson and Ricardo Fuller.
It is not certain what the formation will be.
Watford FC defender, Nyron Nosworthy and Birmingham City’s Marlon King were originally considered to start the game, but both have been withdrawn with minor injuries.
Nosworthy is said to be hampered by a “bunion”, while King has broken the skin on one of his heels.
Not wishing to further aggravate the injuries, the coaching staff opted to play it safe in the interest of having the duo hopefully back to full fitness for next Friday’s opening World Cup qualifying game against Guatemala in Kingston.
“Both players are nursing niggling injuries and for me it made no sense to start them in today’s game and risk injuring them further. We will need them in the more important game against Guatemala next Friday so we have to manage them carefully and ensure that they are fully fit and available for selection then,” head coach Theodore Whitmore said.
— Sean Williams