3 months ago
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SEVERAL NEW names have surfaced in a Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) preliminary 60-man squad for the Concacaf Gold Cup this summer.
In line with Concacaf protocols, all teams participating in the Gold Cup are required to submit a 60-man squad list, from which the final roster of 26 players can be selected.
While Jamaica’s preliminary squad contained the expected names of several long-standing players, there were also key new faces to the national pool.
Seven new overseas-based players have been added to the Jamaican preliminary rosters, six hailing from the English football pyramid and a lone player from the Dutch league.
The most experienced among the new faces is Stoke City’s 30-year-old midfielder Lewis Baker.
Baker had risen to prominence as a Chelsea youth player, represented England at the under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.
After several loans away from Chelsea, the midfielder moved to EFL Championship club Stoke City in 2022.
Demetri Mitchell will also bring with him experience at the professional level, as the 28-year-old has spent his career floating between the English and Scottish leagues.
Mitchell, who came through the Manchester United Academy, plays with Exeter City in League One, operating in the midfield.
The midfielder, however, has missed 25 of his club’s 46 games this season because of injury.
Exeter City had confirmed Mitchell had undergone knee surgery last month following his injuries. However, he is expected to be available in time for the Gold Cup, if selected.
YOUNG TALENTS
Baker and Mitchell will be joined by several young talents who could bring a new dimension to the Reggae Boyz squad.
Chelsea Academy product Malik Mothersille has been given the nod for Steve McClaren’s preliminary squad following his prolific season with Peterborough United.
At 21 years old, Mothersille bagged 16 goals and 10 assists across all competitions this season, following up on his six goals and five assists recorded last season.
Rumarn Burrell has also been named in the preliminary, as the 24-year-old striker has been in form for EFL League One club Burton Albion, scoring 11 goals and two assists this season.
Tyreece Campbell is another JFF target added to the preliminary squad, as the 21-year-old striker could become a long-term investment.
Campbell plays at Charlton Athletic alongside fellow Reggae Boy Karoy Anderson. Another Reggae Boy, Kaheim Dixon, plays with Charlton’s under-21s.
Campbell’s nine goals this season stands as a career-best and he is expected to feature in Charlton’s League One play-off final fixture against Leyton Orient over the weekend.
The final two new names in the preliminary squad are Ajax’s 18-year-old starlet Jinairo Johnson and Tottenham Hotspurs’ 19-year-old talent, Tyrese Hall.
Both players are on the verge of breaking into their respective senior teams and would be great additions for the programme’s future.
The Gold Cup is set to kick off on June 14, with the final squad deadline set for June 4.
Jamaica are drawn in Group C alongside Panama, Guatemala, and Guadeloupe.
English (US) ·