Inter Miami’s Ian Fray gets Reggae Boyz call-up for World Cup qualifiers
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Inter Miami’s Ian Fray has been included in the Reggae Boyz’ 26-man squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers in October, announced by head coach Steve McClaren.
Fray is also joined by 17 year-old Seymour Reid of New York City FC, who also received his first call-up for the international window.
The squad also sees the return of at least seven key players who were absent from the previous two matches in the Concacaf final round of World Cup qualifying.
Jamaica, who won their first two games in the four-team group, will face Curacao on Friday, October 10, in an away match before returning home to host Bermuda at the National Stadium in Kingston on Tuesday.
Among the familiar names returning to the squad are captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake, as well as defenders Joel Latibeaudiere, Ethan Pinnock, and Amari’i Bell. Midfielder Bobby Reid and strikers Ruman Burrell and Demarai Gray are also back.
The coach also reported that several players were not considered due to injuries, including Leon Bailey, Mikhail Antonio and Warner Brown.
Curacao, who is being coached by former Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat, are second in the group behind Jamaica on four points and McClaren says the coaching staff is fully focused on that game.
“We’ve had a good start. We need to continue the momentum. It will be a very difficult game. They have a very, very experienced coach who I know well from his time in England,” he said.
The Curacao squad, he said was “full of Dutch players. So the Dutch play a certain style, a certain way, and Dick’s certainly got them doing that. So I know that very well, very good players, very technically, very good and obviously playing at home, on the artificial surface will give them an advantage. But you know, the roll of the ball will be smooth, it will be like playing on grass, so we have no excuses for that.”
Squad:
Goal-keepers — Andre Blake, Jahmali Waite, Tafari Chambers;
Defenders — Joel Latibeaudiere, Ethan Pinnock, Richard King, Dexter Lembikisa, Greg Leigh, Damion Lowe, Amari’i Bell, Mason Holgate;
Midfielders — Isaac Hayden, Ian Fray, Bobby Reid, Jon Russell, Karoy Anderson, Jahshaun Anglin, Kasey Palmer; and
Forwards — Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri, Shamar Nicholson, Ruman Burrell, Demarai Gray, Kaheim Dixon, Renaldo Cephas, Tyreece Campbell, Seymour Reid.
— Paul Reid
