Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Jermaine Hue (front) ... will miss the Ghana game due to MLS commitments. - FILE
DESPITE THE absence of in-form team captain Ricardo Gardner due to injury, national coach Wendell Downswell remains optimistic ahead of the Reggae Boyz' two-game England tour.
Gardner, who had an outstanding season for English Premier-ship outfit Bolton Wanders, will not be able to make the trip as he is currently in the island recuperating from a knee injury sustained during the season.
"It's a big loss, he is our most seasoned campaigner and our captain' but the team is well motivated and I think we will give a good account of ourselves," the coach stated before departure to London last night.
Downswell went into the final stages of preparation for the historic friendly against England when he named his 20-man squad on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr of Reno was the only newcomer called to the squad. The player, who has represented Jamaica at the youth level, is expected to be third string behind Bradford City's Donovan Ricketts, who will be captain in the absence of Gardner, and Portmore United's Shawn Sawyer.
Before the highly-touted England friendly at Old Trafford on June 3, Jamaica will first play against Ghana on May 29 at Walker's Stadium in Leicester City. Although they are not as recognised a team as England, Downswell and the Boyz will not be taking that encounter lightly.
TOUGH GAME EXPECTED
"It will not be as prestigious a game as the England encounter, but they are a team which has qualified for the World Cup and are looking to fine tune, so I expect a tough game for both of us," he said.
Midfielder Jermaine Hue, who is a part of the squad, will not be joining the team for the Ghana friendly due to prior commitments with U.S. MLS club Kansas City Wizards. However, he will join the side for the England friendly.
Overseas-based players Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Jason Euell, Marlon King, Khari Stephenson and Luton Shelton will join the contingent in England.
The full squad includes Donovan Ricketts, Dwayne Kerr, Shawn Sawyers (goalkeepers); Damion Stewart, Demar Stewart, Jermaine Taylor, Claude Davis, Garfield Reid, Omar Daley (defenders); Shane Crawford, Jason Morrison, Jason Euell, Jamal Campbell Rice, Khari Stephenson, Jermaine Hue (midfielders); Ricardo Fuller, Marlon King, Luton Shelton, Teofore Bennett and Jermaine Johnson (forwards).
