DESPITE missing arguably two of the team’s best forwards in Leon Bailey and Shamar Nicholson, Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren says he’s looking forward to seeing midfielder Tyreek Magee in the upcoming international fixtures this month.

McClaren announced his 23-man squad on Friday as the Jamaica senior men’s team return to action in the Concacaf Nations League A, playing away to Nicaragua on October 10 before hosting Honduras at the National Stadium four days later.

However, Aston Villa forward Bailey will once again miss out on Jamaica duty through injury. The 27-year-old missed the last international window in September after suffering a hamstring injury during Villa’s league game against Leicester City.

Bailey hasn’t played for the Reggae Boys since last November due to suspension and a self-imposed hiatus which saw him turn down a call-up to the Copa America squad in June.

While uncertain of his current condition, McClaren, who convinced Bailey to make himself available for national selection, says he will be a big miss.

“Unfortunately, Leon got a hamstring injury for the last call-up, came back from that — I think by his own admission — a little too early and re-injured his adductor the other day against Bayern Munich. He has a problem; I don’t quite know what exactly that is [but] the club are investigating that,” he said.

“I don’t know whether he’s fit or not but he certainly has a problem — and too much of a problem to risk flying him here and risk him in the games. He’s really disappointed, because after the last camp he missed, he didn’t want to miss this one. He wants to play for Jamaica — he made that clear to me — so he’s very disappointed in that.”

Striker Nicholson also misses out on the squad this time around after playing against Cuba and Honduras last month. McClaren exlpained that the country’s active leading goalscorer wanted more time to improve his conditioning.

“He’s building his fitness up; he’s hired a performance coach to work with him on the fitness side. The club and manager are helping him to improve his fitness, giving him game time, and he wants to be 100 per cent Shamar Nicholson — and he doesn’t feel he was at that [level for] the last camp. So, I understand where he’s coming from and we hope that he gets in good condition, plays minutes for his club, starts scoring goals, and [gets] back to the Shamar we know,” he said.

Jamal Lowe, Michael Hector, Adrian Reid and Jon Russell, who were part of McClaren’s first squad, have all been left out.

There has been, however, a surprise inclusion of former schoolboy standout Tyreek Magee who currently plays for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the second tier of American football, USL.

The 25-year-old, who has 10 caps, did play for Jamaica last November in an international friendly against Guatemala which fell outside the FIFA window, which meant then Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had to field a weakened team because the team’s more established players had club obligations.

But McClaren says Magee’s selection was justified due to his playing ability.

“I’ve always looked for a number 10; a creative player; a little bit out of the box; somebody who can win games, change games. I asked [Assistant Coach] Merron [Gordon] and he recommended Tyreek, so I had a little look at him and I like him,” he said.

“This boy has ability, skill, can change a game, and I said, ‘Yeah, we’ll give him a chance.’ I think that’s what I aim to do; I’m learning so much about everything in Jamaica, and the squad is important. Tyreek is somebody I can’t wait to work with, and see in training, and hopefully get some minutes, and hopefully impact the games.”

Another notable inclusion is English-born defender Mason Holgate who McClaren expects to get his Jamaican passport and FIFA clearance in time for the games.

The 27-year-old, who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion on loan from English Premier League club Everton, has been courted by Jamaica Football Federation for over four years.

Striker Romario Williams and defenders Jon Bell and Tayvon Gray were also named. Star names including Captain Andre Blake, Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Bobby Reid and Ethan Pinnock have all been included.

Wins against Nicaragua and Honduras would secure Jamaica’s spot in the quarter-finals of the Nations League next month, where they will play one of Concacaf’s top four-ranked teams: United States, Mexico, Canada or Panama.

Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren (left) makes his squad announcement for the October international window as Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts looks on at JFF’s headquarters in New Kingston on Friday.
(Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Tyreek Magee

Striker Shamar Nicholson, who plays for Spartak Moscow in Russia, sits out the October international window to work on his physical conditioning. AFP

Leon Bailey misses out on the October international window after suffering another injury while playing for English club Aston Villa. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)