Who are the Jamaicans in the Premier League this season?
LEON BAILEY
Club – Aston Villa
Position – Winger
Squad number – 31
Age – 24
Date of birth – August 9, 1997
Place of birth – Kingston, Jamaica
Club’s next game – Bournemouth (A)
Last season’s key stats
Apps: 18, Goals: 1, Assists: 1
Goals per game: 0.06
Shots: 21
Shots on target: 8
Shooting accuracy: 38 per cent
Passes: 188
Passes per match: 10.44
Big chances created: 1
Crosses: 33
Bailey managed only seven starts last season, due to injury, and bagged a goal and three assists. He has, however, had a strong preseason for Villa, and his three goals and two assists in that time suggests he may have earned a starting position in Steven Gerrard’s 11.
ETHAN PINNOCK
Club – Brentford
Position – Centre back
Squad number – 5
Age – 29
Date of birth – May 29, 1993
Place of birth – Lambeth, England
Club’s next game – Leicester (A)
Last season’s key stats
Apps: 32, Goals: 1
Clean sheets: 7
Tackles: 51
Tackle success: 69 per cent
Blocked shots: 3
Duels won: 216
Duels lost: 101
Aerial battles won: 143
Aerial battles lost: 72
Pinnock was a key figure in Brentford’s backline last year, but a knee injury in preseason has Brentford Manager Thomas Frank doubtful about when he will make his first appearance this season. “He will be out for the first part of the season,” Frank said. “We don’t know how long, but instead of putting a big timescale on it, I know it’s not two to three weeks, but I know it’s long, long, long. He will be out for the first part of the season.”
BOBBY REID
Club – Fulham
Position – Forward
Squad number – 14
Age – 29
Date of birth – February 2, 1993
Place of birth – Bristol, England
Club’s next game – Liverpool (H)
Last season’s key stats (EFL Championship)
Apps: 41, Goals: 8, Assists: 7
Goals per game: 0.3
Shots: 40
Shots on target: 19
Shooting accuracy: 47.5 per cent
Passes: 1003
Passes per match: 29.8
Big chances created: 10
Big chances missed: 7
Reid changed his name officially to Bobby Decordova-Reid in 2018 to honour his mother because he “wanted to represent her after the hard work she’s done” for him.
JAMAL LOWE
Club – Nottingham Forest
Position – Forward, Winger
Squad number – 18
Age – 28
Date of birth – July 21, 1994
Place of birth – Harrow, England
Club’s next game – Newcastle (A)
Last season’s key stats (EFL Championship)
Apps: 39, Goals: 7, Assists: 2
Goals per game: 0.2
Shots: 21
Shots on target: 17
Shooting accuracy: 80.95 per cent
Passes: 397
Passes per match: 24
Big chances created: 2
Big chances missed: 4
Lowe, who joined Bournemouth late in the 2021 summer transfer window, is relishing a good start in the Premier League after having his first preseason training with the club.
MICHAIL ANTONIO
Club – West Ham United
Position – Forward
Squad number – 9
Age – 32
Date of birth – March 28, 1990
Place of birth – Wandsworth, England
Club’s next game – Manchester City (H)
Last season’s key stats
Apps: 36, Goals: 10, Assists: 8
Goals per game: 0.28
Shots: 83
Shots on target: 29
Shooting accuracy: 35 per cent
Passes: 615
Passes per match: 17.08
Big chances created: 7
Big chances missed: 10
In an attempt to rid himself of a reputation for being injury-prone, Antonio has made significant changes to his diet this season. “I did some studying and realised a lot of people are becoming vegans because they believe it keeps them clear of injury,” Antonio told The Athletic last month. “What I’ve found in my research [about a plant-based diet] is that this is to do with the alkaline balance in the veg, and obviously vegans have more of that in their diet.
“I’ve not become completely vegan – I still have my chicken and my fish – but I eat a lot more greens and get a lot more alkaline in my meals, which helps to heal the muscles after games.”
