REGGAE Boy veteran Ian ‘Pepe’ Goodison has been named in a 23-man Jamaica squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup after being out of the set-up for nearly two years.

The 38-year-old, the elder statesman of the senior national team, has been recalled by old pal and teammate and now coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore for the tournament to be played in the USA from June 5-25.

Goodison, who made his debut for Jamaica back in 1996, has 113 caps for Jamaica and has scored nine goals. The six-foot four-inch defender is also a veteran of Jamaica’s team to the 1998 France FIFA World Cup and plays club football with English League One outfit Tranmere Rovers.

Meanwhile, the squad will begin to arrive in Sao Paolo, Brazil over the next couple of days for a pre-Gold Cup training camp at the Traffic Football Academy. After wrapping up that camp, which includes two warm-up matches against top Brazilian opposition, the group will travel directly to the USA on June 2 for the Caribbean champions’ opening match against neighbours Grenada at the Home Depot Centre four days later.

Jamaica play their second game against Guatemala on June 10 in Miami and their final group game against Honduras on June 13 in New Jersey.

A number of players, for one reason or another, will not take part in the Brazilian camp and will only meet up with the group in the USA in time for training and kick off.

USA-based Jermaine Taylor, Jevaughn Watson, Donovan Ricketts and Dicoy Williams will join the group on June 2 in Los Angeles.

Ricardo Fuller and Kavin Bryan were not summoned due to injury, while a recovering Omar Cummings was included as it is thought “he is recovering and is expected to be able to participate in the tournament”, said a release from the JFF.

Newly-appointed assistant senior coach, Brazilian Alfredo Montesso will join the training team for the first time when they arrive in Brazil. The camp, according to the JFF, is expected to fine-tune the physical, tactical and mental preparation of the national team.

SQUAD — Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy, USA), Dwayne Miller (Syrianska FC, Sweden), Duwayne Kerr (Strommen IL, Norway), Shavar Thomas (Kansas City, USA), Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo, USA), Demar Phillips (Aaelusund FC, Norway), Adrian Reid (Portmore), Eric Vernan (Portmore), Dicoy Williams (Toronto FC, Canada), Omar Daley (Unattached), Jason Morrison (Aaelusund FC, Norway), Richard Edwards (Harbour View), Jevaughn Watson (Houston Dynamo, USA), Damion Williams (Nybergsund IL, Norway), Keammar Daley (Tivoli Gardens), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, Norway), Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Dane Richards (New York Red Bull, USA), Ryan Johnson (San José Earthquakes, USA), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids, USA), Luton Shelton (Valerenga FC, Norway), Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers, UK), Tyrone Marshall (Colorado Rapids, USA).