Reggae Boyz Call-Up for Karoy Anderson
Chelsea-bound Dujuan Richards dropped with Charlton Athletic pair given the nod
Karoy Anderson, the 19-year-old London-born midfielder, is the surprise name in the latest Jamaica squad that will tackle Grenada and Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League this month.
Anderson joins his Charlton Athletic team-mate Michael Hector, a former Chelsea ace with 35 international caps who last represented the Reggae Boyz two years ago, in the 23-player squad.
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has been deprived of a trio of regulars with Amari’i Bell and Kasey Palmer forced to miss this month’s Group B matches due to injuries. Ethan Pinnock is also unavailable. He has omitted the goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke and teenage striker Dujuan Richards who joins Chelsea on October 11.
The usual suspects have been selected, with skipper Andre Blake expected to be between the sticks. The veteran will be hoping to be guarded by a more solid defence than in recent outings.
The US-based defensive trio of Javain Brown, Tayvon Gray and Damion Lowe join the English contingent of Di’Shon Bernard, Hector, Greg Leigh, Dexter Lemikisa and Adrian Mariappa.
Hallgrimsson has recognised that the midfield needs to be more fine-tuned, although he has stuck to familiar faces with only Anderson added. Mount Pleasant FC’s Demario Phillips is the only Jamaica-based player in the latest squad.
Strikers Michail Antonio (West Ham United) and Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) are in high spirits with their respective teams in fine fettle. Recent newcomer Demarai Gray will be aiming to continue to score goals for the Boyz, and is the only Jamaican to ply his trade in the highly lucrative Saudi Pro League.
Jamaica, who top Group B of League A in the CONCACAF Nations League, are expected to collect maximum points when they face relative minnows Grenada at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in St. George’s on October 12. Jamaica scored a 5-1 friendly success over the Spice Boyz when they last met in 2018.
Haiti, who came close to stunning the Boyz in Kingston’s National Stadium last month before the hosts rescued a 2-2 stalemate, are on a resurgence.
Both sides will be desperate for points when they face-off at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago on October 15. The top two teams from Group B will advance to the quarter-final stage in November. Canada or Costa Rica await the Group B winner, with Mexico or the United States set to face the group runner-up.
Goalkeepers | Andre Blake, Kemar Foster, Jahmali Waite
Defenders | Di’Shon Bernard, Javain Brown, Tayvon Gray, Michael Hector, Greg Leigh, Dexter Lemikisa, Damion Lowe, Adrian Mariappa
Midfielders | Karoy Anderson, Bobby Decordovaa-Reid, Daniel Johnson, Kevon Lambert, Joel Latibeaudiere, Demario Phillips
Strikers | Michail Antonio, Leon Bailey, Renaldo Cephas, Demarai Gray, Shamar Nicholson, Romario Williams
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