DEPENDING on perspective, it could be the best or the worst of times for the Reggae Boyz as the final-round CONCACAF World Cup qualifying series draws nigh.

On the up side, the JFF has attracted eight foreign players who will in the near future try out for Theodore Whitmore’s squad. On the down side, with no top-class international competition on the horizon, Jamaica could begin their historic bid in the unenviable position of lacking the ideal preparation.

All this is underpinned by the financial restraints that have immobilised the local federation for what seems like generations. As was conceded last week at a JFF press conference, staging a home friendly anytime soon is, therefore, increasingly unlikely and could cruelly affect team chemistry and confidence at this crucial point in time. The hope is, however, that they will play at least a few away games to bolster their chances ahead of what will no doubt be a very competitive series.

Some countries will, no doubt, regard the robust Reggae Boyz as worthy opponents for a friendly game on the next available date. What is a certainty is that international inactivity cannot be good for the team and must be urgently addressed if our lofty Brazil 2014 aspirations are to be credibly sustained.

Against this background, the national senior team finds itself in a basement position not unfamiliar to them. For, ideally, the upcoming Caribbean Cup would have been the perfect stage for the coaching staff to examine the value existing among the new recruits.

The reality, however, is that club commitments do not accommodate this and, as such, it really will be a matter of quick assessment guided by professional instinct when an outfit involving all potential candidates for the final qualifying phase is finally assembled.

Admirably, Whitmore has cautioned that there are no automatic selections for these new invitees and that they will have to offer something substantial to the team. No longer starry-eyed at the notion of foreign-based players within local ranks after Paul Hall, Fitzroy Simpson, Deon Burton, Robbie Earle and others, the emphasis should, hopefully, be on providing quality performers and cultivating a measure of depth within the squad.

One notes that included in this group of UK-based players are Jobi McAnuff and Jermaine Beckford — highly rated professionals who ply their trade for Reading and Huddersfield Town, respectively. With corresponding 52 and 122 career club goals in the English leagues, the pair coud be the players most urgently needed by the Reggae Boyz.

At 31 and 28 years, both McAnuff and Beckford have made the rounds on the English circuit and would add experience and maturity to the Jamaican team. Further, McAnuff is captain of his club and would provide that on-the-field leadership that at times is flagrantly missing in recent Reggae Boyz outfits.

Critically, while their prospective CONCACAF opponents took advantage over the past few months of gaining invaluable practice games facilitated by the FIFA dates set aside for international friendlies, the Boyz have missed out on quite a few.

The last one, earlier this month, quietly slipped by even while the JFF was engaged in its scouting mission in the United Kingdom, which is understandable. However, the fact is that the team can ill-afford to function like this as these fixtures are the benchmarks for progress and should not be disregarded.

Just a few days ago, Panama snared a massive game against world and European champions Spain; the United States played Russia; Honduras tackled Peru and Costa Rica met Bolivia in friendlies. In the midst of these frenetic activities the Reggae Boyz were left unobtrusively twiddling their thumbs.

In the meantime, one notes that Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi continues to make giant forays in the sport. Having at the time of writing notched a mind-boggling 80 goals for the 2012 calendar year, Messi, helped by a fine midweek double against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League, is closing in on Gerd Muller’s coveted 1972 record of 85 achieved for Bayern Munich and Germany.

With time on his side, not many would bet against the little maestro who still has seven La Liga matches to complete what would be a remarkable feat. Along the way, the Argentina captain has surpassed Pele’s standard of 75 goals for Santos and Brazil in 1958.

As ironic as it sounds since he has been in the spotlight for a few years now, this year has been a real breakthrough one for the prolific Messi, who amassed 12 goals in nine international matches for the South American nation which is atop a tough CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying group.

This accomplishment equals that of Gabriel Batistuta in 1998 and one suspects that, having absorbed much flak for his ineffectiveness in Argentina colours at the senior level, the floodgates have now opened for the insatiable 25-year-old superstar.

With 31 international strikes to his name so far, Messi is also within striking distance of Batistuta’s Argentina record of 56 goals. Ominously too, he has a lot time to do it.

Let’s hope this gem stays healthy.