After selecting the most locally-based players for an official match with the Reggae Boyz in three years, head coach Steve McClaren says the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) players have gained his trust following his visit to the island at the start of the year.

The 23-man squad to face St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Concacaf Gold Cup qualifiers on March 21 and 25 was revealed on Friday with nine local-based players making McClaren’s squad.

While mostly JPL players have been selected for international friendlies outside of the FIFA window in recent years, it’s the first time since 2022 that this many local-based players will get the opportunity in a competitive fixture. Former interim Head Coach Paul Hall selected 13 Jamaican-based players for the final Concacaf World Cup qualifier against Honduras in March 2022.

Fresh off their battle with Argentina superstar Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, reigning Jamaica Premier League champions and Caribbean Cup champions Cavalier FC have two players in the squad, Captain Richard King and left-back Christopher Ainsworth.

JPL leaders Mount Pleasant Football Academy boast the most with five players: Shaquan Davis, Kyle Ming, Fitzroy Cummings, Jahshaun Anglin, and Captain Sue-Lae McCalla.

JPL leading scorer Warner Brown of Arnett Gardens and Vere Phoenix midfielder Tyreek Magee complete the local-based players.

After watching a number of JPL games in January and February as well as the two international friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago in February, McClaren says the local players earned the right to make the squad.

“The camp we had a few weeks ago, the two games against Trinidad, we worked nearly five days with them gave me a great insight into the abilities, the characters and I really enjoyed that camp. From that, working with them has given me confidence in which I can put them in the squad and know that they will do the job,” he said.

Although having nine currently, McClaren says there might be an increase in the coming days with Cavalier players likely being prioritised due to their impressive showing against Inter Miami.

“I’ve seen Cavalier more than any other team, so I know their players well. Some players were very close and are now really on standby for the squad because we’ve had injuries already this week and we’ve got a weekend to go so we’ll need replacements,” he said.

“King is an integral part of our squad, Ainsworth comes into that as well but they have many good players we’ve looked at with [Dwayne] Atkinson, [Jalmaro] Calvin, Shamar Watson, Adrian Reid; so there are many good players in the Cavalier squad and they proved that in the two legs against Inter Miami, so there’s talent on this island,” McClaren added.

Arnett’s Brown has taken the JPL by storm with an impressive 18 goals in 26 games. McClaren believes he can be part of the team long term if he makes the right impression.

“I liked him in [national] camp, he’s a goal scorer. In the game we went to see him for Arnett Gardens, he scored a hat-trick so it’s quite easy to include him the squad. He’s one of them who I think can help us impact, he’s a goal scorer, he’s quick, he runs behind and he’s got an eye for goal,” McClaren said.

“We haven’t got, in the UK or even on the island, really standout strikers that we can pick. Shamar Nicholson comes in, Antonio was obviously our number one, Romario Williams was effective in the two games before the new year but unfortunately we can’t get him. So the number nine is a position which we need to find that hidden gem, so Warner has an opportunity in the two games to seal a place.”

However, with the additions of England-based players including Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, McClaren is optimistic they’ll be able to qualify for the Gold Cup this summer.

“We know this is a difficult game so the squad is the strongest available to us at this present time and a squad that is good enough to get the job. With experience and players who have played for us regularly and players we welcome back like Bobby Reid and Ethan Pinnock, so we’re confident we can get the job done,” he said.

The first leg will take place on March 21 away at Arnos Vale Stadium with the second leg set for March 25 at Sabina Park.

Full Squad: Goalkeepers — Andre Blake (captain), Jahmali Waite, Shaquan Davis

Defenders — Ethan Pinnock, Joel Latibeaudiere, Richard King, Amari’i Bell, Kyle Ming, Christopher Ainsworth, Fitzroy Cummings, Dexter Lembikisa

Midfielders — Bobby Reid, Isaac Hayden, Jahshaun Anglin, Sue-Lae McCalla, Kasey Palmer, Tyreek Magee

Forwards — Leon Bailey, Shamar Nicholson, Demarai Gray, Kaheim Dixon, Renaldo Cephas, Warner Brown

MCCLAREN… working with them has given me confidence in which I can put them in the squad and know that they will do the jobPhoto: Karl Mclarty