KINGSTON, Jamaica — Striker Shamar Nicholson is set to return to the Reggae Boyz line-up for their decisive Concacaf World Cup Qualifier against Curacao tonight at the National Stadium.

The national senior men’s team need a win to automatically qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup while Curacao only need a draw to make their first ever appearance.

Nicholson, Jamaica’s second all-time leading goal scorer with 21, was left out of the team’s 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago last Thursday which saw them fall second in the group on 10 points, while Curacao moved ahead to 11 points following their 7-0 win over Bermuda.

It was a surprising move from head coach Steve McClaren who opted to bench the 28-year- old, just days after calling him the best striker in the Caribbean.

However, McClaren has defended his decision as he saved him for their pivotal match. He’s also set to call on defenders Dexter Lembikisa and Ian Fray, who also played no part in the draw with Trinidad.

“It was very difficult the last game picking a team. We said to the players, if you’d have said, ‘Shamar, you start and he picked up a yellow and he wasn’t available this game, I think that would be a mistake or a bad decision,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say (it was) a mistake (not playing Shamar) because you make decisions and they’re not really mistakes, they either work or they don’t work,” he said. “What we’ve got now is Shamar is available, Ian Fray is available and Dexter is available, which is what we wanted for this game.”

McClaren has ruled out the possibility of involving midfielder Kasey Palmer who is still rehabbing from a knee injury. However, defender Richard King who was substituted in the first half against Trinidad due to injury, may make a return to the team.

Captain Andre Blake, Ethan Pinnock, Isaac Hayden and Renaldo Cephas are also set to be named in the starting 11.

After their 0-2 away defeat to Curacao last month, McClaren is urging his team to put on a better showing.

“The game is over 95 minutes and we tend to plan with that .I think energy and attitude are important, not just at the beginning but also towards the end. So we will plan for that and the players are prepared for that. We’ve got a strong squad, we’ve got a good bench and everybody is focused and ready to contribute and put the egos aside for one sole purpose of winning this game,” said McClaren.

A draw or a loss could result in Jamaica playing in the inter-confederation playoffs, though their spot isn’t guaranteed if the second place teams from the two other groups finish with a better record.