Embattled defender Alvas Powell has been included in Jamaica’s 27-man training squad ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifying game against Nicaragua on Friday.

The squad, which also includes four local-based players in Rosario Harriott of Harbour View FC, Upston Edwards of Portmore United and the Montego Bay United pair of Ladale Richie and Cordell Simpson, will be noticeably missing ace defender Wes Morgan, winger Garath McLeary and attacking midfielder Jobi McAnuff. The three were all key players in the Copa America and Gold Cup squads, and have been omitted due to injury and personal reasons.

English-based midfielder Lee Williamson has been called up to the squad for a second time, after being included in a 28-man squad back in 2008. The 33-year-old, who was born in Derby, England, has made 69 appearances for Blackburn Rovers since joining the club in 2013.

A number of players arrived in the island yesterday ahead of the squad’s first training session, which was slated for Stadium East last evening. The squad will be reduced to 23 for Friday’s encounter at the National Stadium.

Meanwhile, Powell, who walked out of the Jamaica national football team in the middle of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but apologised some time after, has been recalled by Head Coach Winfried Schaefer.

The former Portmore United standout, who was a second-half substitute in Jamaica’s 1-0 win over El Salvador at the Gold Cup group stage in Toronto, Canada, was dissatisfied with his limited playing time at the tournament.

The Jamaicans ended the tournament as runners-up to Mexico after going down 1-3 in the final.

The return game of the two-legged playoff will take place next Tuesday at the Nicaragua National Football Stadium at 8:30 pm in Managua, the Nicaraguan capital. Awaiting Jamaica, if they advance, are Costa Rica and Panama, and the winner of the Haiti vs Grenada match.

Group A consists of Mexico, Honduras and the winners of the Curacao vs El Salvador, and Canada vs Belize encounters. Group B has Costa Rica, Panama, and the winners of Jamaica vs Nicaragua, and Haiti vs Grenada, while Group C comprises USA, Trinidad and Tobago and the winners of the St Vincent and the Grenadines vs Aruba, and Antigua and Barbuda vs Guatemala.

The top two teams from each of the three groups will advance to the fifth and final round, a six-team mini-league where the top three teams qualify for the Russia World Cup Finals, and the fourth team goes into an intercontinental play-off.

Full Squad: Joel Grant (Exeter City); Simon Dawkins (Derby County); Dwayne Miller (Syrianska); Lance Laing (FC Edmonton); Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union); Michael Seaton (Portland Timbers); Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers); Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace); Michael Hector (Chelsea FC); Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls); Romeo Parkes (ADIsidro Metapan); Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps); Andre Clennon (VPS Vaasa); Demar Phillips (Real Salt Lake); Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas); Rodolph Austin (Unattached); DuWayne Kerr (Sarpsborg); Lee Williamson (Blackburn Rovers); Christopher Humphrey (Preston North End); Sergio Campbell (Columbus Crew); Hughan Gray (VPS Vaasa); Upston Edwards (Portmore United); Rosario Harriott (Harbour View FC); Ladale Richie (Montego Bay United); Cordell Simpson (Montego Bay United); Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo); Deshorn Brown (Valerenga).

—Sherdon Cowan