MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Giles Barnes has been ruled out of Jamaica’s return-leg round three CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tie against Nicaragua as he is not allowed to play on artificial surfaces due to a history of joint and tendon problems.

Barnes’ place has been taken by Upston Edwards.

The return leg is slated for tomorrow at 8:30 pm (Jamaica time) at the National football Stadium in Managua.

There is also a concern for Captain Rodolph Austin, who is the only player from the 24-man squad yet to arrive in Managua. Austin did not travel with the rest of the group on their chartered flight from Kingston into Managua on Saturday evening as he left for Mexico earlier in the day in an effort to sort out a Danish visa as he seeks to continue his professional career in Scandinavia.

The marauding midfielder is also troubled by joint problems which could influence his effectiveness on this type of surface.

Head Coach Winfried Schaefer told the Jamaica Observer that if Austin is unavailable, then Adrian Mariappa could step in to captain the team. The coach also hinted that he was looking at Andre Clennon as a possible candidate to step into the fray at some stage, depending on how well he performs in training yesterday at the National Sports Institute at 4:00 pm (5:00 pm Jamaica time).

Lee Williamson could fill in for Austin, who is due to join his teammates today, while Deshorn Brown, who injected some life into Jamaica’s play as a substitute on Friday, looks the likely replacement for Barnes.

SQUAD: Andre Blake, Dwayne Miller, DuWayne Kerr, Joel Grant, Simon Dawkins, Lance Laing, Michael Seaton, Adrian Mariappa, Lee Williamson, Kemar Lawrence, Romeo Parkes, Darren mattocks, Andre Clennon, Upston Edwards, Je-Vaughn Watson, Deshorn Brown, Michael Hector, Christopher Humphrey, Sergio Campbell, Hughan Gray, Rosario Harriott, Rodolph Austin, Demar Phillips, Alvas Powell.

— Ian Burnett