Although Leon Bailey is recovering from another injury setback, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren says he’s hoping the AS Roma winger will be available for the potentially decisive FIFA World Cup Qualifier versus Curacao at the National Stadium next week.

On Saturday, McClaren named a 26-man squad for the final round Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers away to Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, November 13 and at home against Curacao on Tuesday, November 18.

Bailey, though, was once again left out after sustaining a hamstring injury in training last week ahead of Roma’s Europa League tie against Rangers FC.

The 28-year-old missed Jamaica’s four qualifying games in September and October after also picking up an injury in Roma training at the end of August. Bailey, who has seven goals in 39 international appearances, hasn’t played for the national team since the Concacaf Gold Cup in June.

However, his involvement in the Reggae Boyz push to qualify for next year’s World Cup hasn’t been ruled out by McClaren who says he’s keeping him on standby if he recovers for the final qualifying game against Curacao.

“I’ve spoken to Leon who’s desperate to play some part in the next two games and from the medical report that we’ve had, it could be touch and go whether he may be fit for the second game,” said McClaren.

“So what I’ve said to Leon is that we will stay in touch, he will do his rehab in Rome and if he’s any near to fitness for the second game, we’ll definitely fly him over and get him involved in the second game — he wants that.”

Hull City FC midfielder Kasey Palmer, who was also left out of the initial squad, is also being monitored by the Jamaica technical staff.

The 29-year-old Palmer, who was named man of the match in the Reggae Boyz 4-0 win over Bermuda last month, picked up a medical collateral ligament (MCL) injury during the game at the National Stadium which was expected to rule him out for two months.

Leon Bailey of Jamaica celebrates scoring against Guadeloupe during the Concacaf Gold Cup Group C match at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, on June 20, 2025. Photo: Concacaf Media

“Like Leon, he’s unbelievably disappointed to be injured,” McClaren said. “He has a chance for the second game and again, we will leave it open until after the first game, do the rehab at his club and them two will report on Friday to see the progress that they’ve made.”

The absence of both players would be a blow to McClaren due to their creative attributes.

However, the Boyz head coach is confident he still has enough offensive quality within the squad.

“In the summer, we improved in the Unity Cup. In Guatemala, we scored three goals at home and we scored even in the Gold Cup. In the World Cup qualifiers so far, we’ve scored 10 goals. So we have players who can create and we’ve got players who can score, and we need to keep that going,” said McClaren.

“We’ve got players with speed, individual talent and ability that can create things from nothing so we hope that will work in the next two games.”

The Jamaicans lead Group B with nine points, one more than second-place Curacao who play away to out-of-contention Bermuda (zero point) on Thursday. Trinidad and Tobago are third with five points.

A win against Trinidad and a draw against Curacao would guarantee Jamaica a spot at the World Cup next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

However, a Bermuda victory against Curacao and a win for Jamaica against Trinidad would secure the Reggae Boyz place prior to their final game.

The last and only time Jamaica qualified for a World Cup was back in November 1997 when they held Mexico to a goalless draw inside the National Stadium which saw them earn one of three regional qualifying spots to the France 1998 showpiece.

Jamaica and AS Roma winger Leon Bailey

MCCLAREN…we have players who can create and we’ve got players who can score, and we need to keep that going Photo: Naphtali Junior

Kasey Palmer Photo: JFF