TUCKER, St James — Defending champions and Red Stripe Premier League leaders Montego Bay United are hoping to significantly improve their team when the FIFA transfer window opens this weekend.

Team president and owner, Orville Powell, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday the club had signed two new players and were hoping to add “more big names” soon.

Powell confirmed that they had signed Portmore United midfielder Ricardo Morris, while former national wingback Troy Smith will be returning after an absence of two seasons.

Coach Carlos Garcia will need to boost his stock as two strikers Omar Gordon and Dino Williams are set for overseas trials in Vietnam and Norway, respectively.

Morris, a native of Montego Bay, will reunite with several teammates from the double-winning St James High team of 2008, including Fabian McCarthy, John Barrett and Allan Ottey.

He has been part of the Portmore United system since leaving high school and played on several national teams.

Smith was a fixture in several national teams from Under-20, Under-23 through to the senior set-up for several years before been slowed by injuries. He then played Western Confederation Senior League for the last two seasons.

Garcia told the Observer he was happy with the new signings and said they should be in the squad for Sunday’s game against last-placed Barbican FC at WesPow Park.

A number of regular players are still out with injuries, including midfielder McCarthy, Lesly St Fleur and goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett.

— Paul Reid