In the build-up to Thursday night’s 0-1 loss to the United States at the National Stadium in Jamaica, Reggae Boyz Head Coach Mr Steve McClaren voiced a view that he should keep repeating.

His players needed to face up to the United States (against whom they have mostly lost) with self-belief and without fear, he said.

Success would eventually come “… as long as we keep belief and confidence and not look at the opponent with fear but as a challenge”, Mr McClaren said.

As they enter Monday night’s Concacaf Nations League return leg against the United States in St Louis, Missouri, the Reggae Boyz should take their coach’s words to heart.

And even as they strive to correct mistakes on Thursday night, such as giving the opposition too much room, they must bear in mind the positives.

They should not forget that but for a missed penalty they would, in all probability, have at least shared the points. And that in the second half they came very close to scoring more than once.

Going back even further, the memory bank should be of immense value. The Reggae Boyz should recall that while they lost 1-3 to the USA in that country in the previous cycle of the Nations League in March this year, they led for more than 90 minutes before falling apart in extra time of that semi-final match.

And what better memory could there be than November last year when the Jamaicans showed awesome mental strength to rebound from the depths to beat the Canadians in Toronto’s sleet and rain?

Back then, the Jamaicans had lost the first leg of the tie 1-2 at home. They then conceded in the first half of the second leg in Toronto to be down 1-3 on aggregate at half time.

A recovery followed that’s surely among the more remarkable in the history of Jamaican football.

Inspired by unrelenting forward runs by accustomed central defender Mr Damian Lowe, the Jamaicans scored three times in the second half to win the game 3-2 and tie 4-4 on aggregate with the Canadians.

That result meant the Reggae Boyz advanced to the next round of last season’s Concacaf Nations League by virtue of the away goal rule.

So, now to Monday, in Missouri, as the Reggae Boyz aim for even greater glory in this latest edition of the regional competition.

We are at one with Mr McClaren that “We [Jamaica] are capable of winning away from home; we are capable of scoring away from home…”

Indeed, it can be readily argued that the Reggae Boyz have been winning away, far more than at home, in recent times.

Very importantly, Mr McClaren reminds us that this is all part of “a process” and that he is “focused on performance” and “proud of the players for their work, the way they defended, pressed, and created chances. I’m very proud of all of them”.

Should Mr McClaren and his players sustain and advance this “process” and “performance” to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, they would have triumphantly completed the job being asked of them.