Leon Bailey out of Reggae Boyz squad for upcoming CNL matches

Head coach of the Reggae Boyz Theodore "Tappa" Whitmore says Leon Bailey may not be included in Jamaica's squad to face Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana in League "B" of the CONCACAF Nations League later this month. Bailey is absent from the squad as he has just returned to club football with Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. In the meantime, Fulham FC forward Bobby Reid has been recalled to the squad.

Reid who scored on debut in a 6-0 victory, missed the home and away legs against Aruba due to a knee injury. Despite Bailey’s absence, Whitmore says this gives him an opportunity to look at other players.

“You’ll be seeing Bobby Reid but not Leon Bailey; Leon just came out of injury and has just started playing again. It gives the technical team a chance to seem someone-else,” said Whitmore.

Coach Whitmore also provided an update on the players he would like to inject into the player pool ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers which kick off in August 2020. One of the names he is eyeing is Jamaican-born former England Under-20 player Rolando Aarons.

“Just two days ago Rolando Aarons from New Castle and is on loan at Wycombe Wanderers and played two days ago and is on loan now, has his Jamaican passport but that needs to be renewed,” said Whitmore who added that in order to make qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup a reality, the support staff will need to be improved. He was speaking on TVJ's Eye on Sports recently.

Another key absentee from the squad is left wing-back Kemar “Taxi” Lawrence. The full squad reads: Peter-Lee Vassell, Bobby Reid, Ricardo Morris, Kevaughn Frater, Andre Blake, Fabion McCarthy, Kevaughn Isaacs, Andre Lewis, Alvas Powell, Lamar Walker, Chavany Willis, Malique Foster, Javon East, Shamar Nicholson, Amal Knight, Shaun Francis, Je-Vvaughn Watson, Ajeanie Talbott, Damion Lowe, Brian Brown, Alex Marshall, Akeem Chambers and Adrian Mariappa. The overseas-based players are expected to join camp on Monday. 

The Reggae Boyz will play Antigua away on November 15 before ending league "B" of the Nations League on November 18 against Guyana at home.