Wes Morgan (yellow jersey #4) was called up to Jamaica for a pair of World Cup qualifiers in September 2016. (Photo: Mexsport)
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Jamaica’s bid to reach the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was put in the hands of the 23 players named Tuesday to the roster for a pair of encounters next month.
The last Group B matches against second-place Panama (2W-1D-0L, 7 points) and fourth-place Haiti will be played on September 2 (away) and September 6 (home), respectively. The Reggae Boyz (1-1-2, 4) occupy third place and will be eliminated from contention if they lose to Panama.
Head coach Winfried Schafer assembled a side that consists of 21 foreign-based competitors, including 11 with clubs in the United States and seven in England, led by defender Wes Morgan – captain of Leicester City, the 2015/16 English Premier League champion Leicester City.
Jamaica lost to Panama (0-2) and defeated Haiti (1-0) when they first met earlier in the fourth round last year.
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Jacomeno Barrett (Montego Bay United), Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union/USA), Ryan Thompson (St. Louis FC/USA)
DEFENDERS: Shaun Francis (San Jose Earthquakes/USA), Rosario Harriott (Harbour View), Michael Hector (Chelsea/England), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls/USA), Adrian Mariappa (Hull City/England), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers/USA), Jermaine Taylor (Portland Timbers/USA), Wes Morgan (Leicester City/England)
MIDFIELDERS: Rodolph Austin (Brondby/Denmark), Michael Binns (Wilmington Hammerheads/USA), Omar Holness (Real Salt Lake/USA), Jobi McAnuff (Stevenage/England), Garath McCleary (Reading/England), Je-Vaughn Watson (New England Revolution/USA), Lee Williamson (Burton Albion/England)
FORWARDS: Giles Barnes (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Cory Burke (Bethlehem Steel FC/USA), Simon Dawkins (San Jose Earthquakes/USA), Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City/England), Dever Orgill (IFK Mariehamn/Finland)
