JAMAICA’S Reggae Boyz will be near full strength for their next two games in the Concacaf final round of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, after it was heard that seven regular starters
who missed the first two games would be available for games against Curacao and Bermuda on October 10 and 14.

Head Coach Steve McClaren announced on Saturday that the seven players who had missed wins over Bermuda, and Trinidad and Tobago in the September international window were named in the 26-man squad along with two newcomers, Ian Fray and Seymour Reid, both playing in Major League Soccer in the United States.

Jamaica leads the group with maximum six points — two more than Curacao who they will play away on Friday and then host Bermuda at the National Stadium the following Tuesday.

Goalkeeper and Captain Andre Blake returns to the team, as well as defenders Joel Latibeaudiere, Ethan Pinnock, and Amari’i Bell; midfielder Bobby Reid and strikers Rumarn Burrell, and Demarai Gray are also back.

McClaren says several players, including Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio and Warner Brown, were not considered due to injuries.

At a press conference on Saturday, McClaren said they are ready to pick up where they left off last month when they face Curacao.

“We’ve had a good start,” he said. “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.”

Curacao is coached by former Netherlands coach, Dick Advocaat. That squad, McClaren said, is “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,” he said. “Very good players, very technical, 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.”

McClaren said the addition of Inter Miami’s Fray, who had declined an invitation last month as he did not feel he was ready, gave the team some flexibility as he can play several positions in the defence and midfield. McClaren said he is looking forward to seeing what the 17-year-old Reid, who was just promoted to the New York City FC first team, could add to the squad.

Squad

Goalkeepers

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

Forwards

Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri, Shamar Nicholson, Rumarn Burrell, Demarai Gray, Kaheim Dixon, Renaldo Cephas, Tyreece Campbell, Seymour Reid

MCCLAREN…we need to continue the momentum. It will be a very difficult game