Morrison On Jamaica’s Wanted List To Tackle El Salvador
Reggae Boyz eye up midfielder for Gold Cup challenge
Ravel Morrison, the former Manchester United midfielder, could get an international call-up by Jamaica for next month’s key game.
The British-born 26-year-old has finally received his Jamaican passport, so could feature in March’s CONCACAF Nations League tie against hosts El Salvador.
Morrison who plies his trade with Lazio, although hasn’t played for the Italian club since April 2016, has recently been on trial with Swedish top-flight side Ostersunds FK at their training camp in Marbella, Spain so is unsettled at the moment.
However, Morrison was on loan at Mexican side Atlas last season, and his fine form in the Liga MX alerted Jamaica about approaching him.
Morrison turned down the chance to play for Jamaica against Suriname last November, citing injury problems. Yet his passport application had not gone through as planned so he couldn’t have represented the Reggae Boyz.
Last year he tried to fast-track obtaining a Jamaican passport, but there was a delay to receive his documents as a result of missing paperwork. Now the issue has been tackled the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) are keen on his services.
JFF president Michael Ricketts is eager to strengthen the Boyz and has for sometime had midfield maestro Leon Bailey in his sights for a senior debut ahead of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played from 15 June until 7 July.
But for now Morrison is his priority target, and Ricketts said: “We are still tracking his progress because we are going to need him for the next game.
“The Central Americans can be really tough at times, especially when the game is being played there, so we would welcome his presence in the side. I know that he’s keen on playing.”
However, JFF team manager Roy Simpson is aware that the ball is in Morrison’s court as far as becoming a Jamaican international is concerned.
Simpson explained: “He has indicated to us that hopefully he will be ready at the start of the Gold Cup.
“So it’s now up to him and his agent to do what they need to do to come on board.”
Jamaica have yet to qualify for this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, where they finished runner-up in the past two tournaments, but a victory over El Salvador next month should seal their place as one of the 16 nations.
The competition has been extremely lucrative for the JFF over the years. So far six teams have qualified for the showcase that will be played in the United States, with Costa Rica and a yet to be named Caribbean country also hosting the early rounds of the biennial tournament.
Bailey, who plays for German top-tier team Bayer Leverkusen, may be tempted to take up the offer of making his senior debut for the Boyz should they qualify.
And if Morrison is lining up alongside him then teams such as Mexico and the US should have their work cut out trying to contain two explosive midfielders.
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