The Jamaica Observer understands that Shamar Nicholson, Dujuan “Whisper” Richards and Kaheim Dixon are among the high profile names who are set to be left out of the Reggae Boyz squad for this month’s FIFA World Cup Playoffs in Mexico.

Interim head coach Rudolph Speid is expected to reveal the squad on Friday ahead of their inter-confederation clash in Mexico with Oceania’s New Caledonia on March 26 and potentially the final against Africa’s DR Congo on March 31.

Striker Nicholson, who recently secured a move to Belarus’ top division, is expected to miss out despite being the country’s active leading goalscorer with 21 goals in 62 appearances.

Leicester City loanee Richards and Charlton Athletic forward Dixon will also miss out along with Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Dexter Lembikisa and Mansfield Town midfielder Jon Russell.

All five players were involved during Jamaica’s find round Concacaf World Cup Qualifying campaign last year including the 0-0 draw against World Cup bound Curacao at the National Stadium in November which saw them fail to automatically qualify.

As revealed by the Observer last Saturday, striker Michail Antonio will also be left out despite returning to professional club football for the first time in almost two years in the Qatar Stars League last week.

It’s believed that the players didn’t meet the selection criteria outlined by Speid in January.

The Observer also understands that there will be three English-born debutants in the squad including winger Ephron Mason-Clark whose seven goals and seven assists have helped to lift Coventry to the top of the English Championship table.

Sheffield United winger Andre Brooks and 20-year-old Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tyrese Hall, on loan at Notts County, are expected to get the nod from Speid.

Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey is also set for a return to the national team after missing all six of the final round of qualifiers.

Jamaica will join Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K at the World Cup, if they get pass New Caledonia and DR Congo.
It will also end their drought at the major showpiece, having last qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France.