4 weeks ago
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DESPITE GETTING his first international call-up in almost a year, midfielder Tyreek Magee returns to the fold after being selected by Steve McClaren for the Boyz two Concacaf Nations League games against Nicaragua and Honduras in the coming days, and local coaches are excited by the attacking midfielder’s inclusion.
Coaches Andrew Price, Calvert Fitzgerald and Lenworth Hyde have all emphatically endorsed the selection of the Colorado Switchbacks FC player, with Hyde even calling for the 25-year-old to remain a permanent fixture in the team, whether he plays well in these two matches or not.
“That man should be in the team long time,” Hyde exclaimed. “You cannot leave out a youth like that. That youth should be in the team religiously.”
He pointed that had Magee remain a part of the programme since his first call-up as a 19-year-old in 2019, the team would now be reaping the rewards of his talent.
However, the midfielder will basically be starting from scratch again, he said.
“They cannot take him out no matter how bad he plays. He needs to stay in it because you are going to need players like that.
“We are always complaining that we do not have any creative players. Creativity takes time and the more he understands the coach’s system the better he will play and the more he will get to use his skills. So I think it is a plus and we should keep him in regardless of how he plays.”
Although blessed with exceptional technical ability, Magee is often criticised for his lack of defensive discipline and work off the ball, which was one of the main reason he failed to break into Heimer Hallgrimsson’s squad.
Fitzgerald reasoned that if he improves this aspect of game, he will be a great asset to the national team.
“We know Tyreek’s ability. We know what he can do. We know the area that he is weak in, in terms of his work rate and getting back to help the defensive process.
“We do not expect him to be an out and out defender but in modern football, you have to be able to play on both sides of the ball. If he can improve in that department, he can definitely be an asset to the team.
“The coach says he plays with a number 10 but that player must have defensive responsibilities. The pace at which the game is being played now it is absolutely vital that everybody works in front and behind the ball. So if he has improved defensively, it will be good for him,” he stated.
However, he said Jamaica’s midfield remains an issue and that Magee offers the solution.
“We have fairly good defenders. We have a lot of wingers and a lot of centre-forwards but I think the weakest as part of the team is the midfield.
“We have hard workers. But in the midfield you do not just need hard workers, you also need creative players, players that will allow you to keep possession, players who will create chances for the attackers, and we know the quality he possesses in retaining possession, making small passes, changing the direction of the game and changing the pace of the game.
“We know that he is extremely good at doing that, so if he improves on the other side of his game, it is going to be a plus.”
Price, also believes that with his ability, Magee can offer a lot to the Reggae Boyz, and despite playing just one international game in the last two years, he thinks the former Jamaica College player, who has 10 international caps, has enough experience with the national team and should be looking to make his mark.
“I think he is long overdue. We have always been looking for some amount of creativity in midfield and hopefully Magee can provide that. If he goes out and do well, he may very well be the solution. But he needs to prove himself now that he has got a call-up,” he said.
“When you think about it, he has been around the national team for some time. So he must come in now and stamp his class.”
Magee, in an interview with Jamaica Football Federation Media, said he was excited to be back in the national team and that he has done a lot of soul-searching to be back in the programme.
That improvement, he says, has come with his move to the United States.
“I feel like it’s more mentally (for my improvements). I have done a lot of soul-searching and stuff. I was just thinking to myself what I want from football and I feel like it has been helping me so far,” he said.
“It’s different (playing in Colorado). There’s a lot of travelling and stuff like that and for some reason I feel like in the USL there is more running than in Belgium. I feel like it is more physical. In Belgium it was more on the ball. But I am really enjoying my football in the US at the moment though.”
The former Jamaica College star spent two years in Belgium’s top flight with KAS Eupen, but due to a lack of playing time switched to the Switchbacks last year, where he has had some outstanding performances.
Jamaica play away to Nicaragua on Thursday before hosting Honduras at the National Stadium on Monday.
English (US) ·