Defender Michael Hector has been recalled to Jamaica’s senior men’s football team after a two-year absence.

Hector replaces injured Ethan Pinnock as the Reggae Boyz prepare to face Grenada and Haiti in two Concacaf Nations League games starting next week.

Head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson says Hector, 31, was selected not only because of his form with English Football League Championship club Charlton Athletic but also for his years of experience representing Jamaica, as Pinnock will be missed in that regard.

Hector’s last Jamaica call-up was under previous head coach Theodore Whitmore at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. There, he played in Jamaica’s first two group games – a 2-0 win over Suriname, and a 2-1 win over Guadeloupe. The Reggae Boyz were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage of the tournament by the United States that summer.

Goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, defender Amari’i Bell, and midfielder Kasey Palmer have been excluded because of injury.

Striker Dujuan Richards was not picked because of a lack of club football. Richards cannot sign a professional contract with Premier League side Chelsea until his 18th birthday on October 11.

Jamaica will play both games away from home, meeting Grenada on October 11 at 6 pm Jamaica time, then Haiti in Port of Spain, Trinidad on October 15 at 7 pm Jamaica time.

Jamaica’s squad:

Goalkeepers

Andre Blake (Captain)

Kemar Foster

Jahmali Waite

Defenders

Javain Brown

Tayvon Gray

De’Shon Bernard

Dexter Lembikisa

Damion Lowe

Michael Hector

Greg Leigh

Adrian Mariappa

Midfielders

Bobby Decordova-Reid

Daniel Johnson

Joel Latibeaudiere

Kevon Lambert

Karoy Anderson

Demario Phillips

Forwards

Michail Antonio

Shamar Nicholson

Leon Bailey

Romario Williams

Renaldo Cephas

Demarai Gray