Despite criticisms about the squad selected for Jamaica’s FIFA World Cup qualifying games against the Dominican Republic and Dominica, former national player Paul “Tegat” Davis says it is good enough to get results and should be given a chance.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) named a 26-man squad for the games on Friday afternoon which has been largely criticised on social media as being underwhelming because of several key absences.

Several key players were not named because of injury. Captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake recently had knee surgery while winger Demarai Gray is out with a broken collar bone, left back Amari’i Bell has an anterior cruciate ligament injury, centre back Joel Latibeaudiere is out with a calf strain, centre back Ethan Pinnock has an ankle injury, striker Dujuan Richards is also injured, while winger Leon Bailey is still unavailable after announcing in March that he is taking a hiatus from the team.

But Davis says it is still a good squad.

“It all depends on the availability of the players,” he said. “But it’s a fairly good squad that can go out there and do the job. The coach will have confidence in these players because he would have seen them, knows what they can do, and watched the Premier League with them. Some of them have already played a couple of games with the national team.

“People might complain because they don’t see certain players but they don’t know the availability of the players we are expecting to see — most of our star players. You have to give these lads a try and I think they can do the job.”

Another factor to consider with some absences is that Jamaica will compete in Copa America this summer. Some players have likely been left out of the World Cup qualifiers because they will feature in Copa America and have possibly opted to vacation now, as they will have to focus on their upcoming club season soon after that tournament.

Jamaica faces the Dominican Republic at the National Stadium on Thursday then arrive in Roseau, Dominica, on Friday for the other game on Sunday.

Dominica captain and goalkeeper Glenson Prince says a rotated squad does not mean Jamaica will be easier to face but remains confident of their chances.

“We know the level they play at,” Prince told the
Jamaica Observer. “Even if they have a few players that are unavailable, whether through injury or other reasons, they are still a formidable squad — one of the top teams in Concacaf. So we’re not expecting them to be any less threatening, any less potent, any less dangerous to us because they are Jamaica and we know what they bring.

“However, we have a lot of belief and confidence in ourselves, in the coaching staff. We know that we’re doing this not just for ourselves, but for our families, our fans, and our country. We’ll go out there and give our best.”

The Reggae Boyz squad convenes today for a training camp ahead of the games.

Squad:

Goalkeepers

Shaquan Davis

Jayden Hibbert

Coniah Boyce-Clarke

Jahmali Waite

Defenders

Dexter Lembikisa

Di’Shon Bernard

Greg Leigh

Damion Lowe

Michael Hector

Richard King

Tayvon Gray

Jon Bell

Midfielders

Kasey Palmer

Karoy Anderson

Bobby Reid

Daniel Johnson

Alex Marshall

Adrian Reid Jr

Kevon Lambert

Forwards

Shamar Nicholson

Renaldo Cephas

Michail Antonio

Deshane Beckford

Kaheim Dixon

Cory Burke

Devonte Campbell