Jamaica can unlock Morrison’s potential – British journalist
Published:Sunday | November 15, 2020 | 12:18 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
After a lengthy courtship, Ravel Morrison finally made his debut for Jamaica during yesterday’s 3-0 friendly international loss to Saudi Arabia at the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium in Riyadh.
As the 27-year-old England-born midfielder continues to adjust to his new experience, British journalist Rodney Hinds says that the international level could be the opportunity Morrison has been waiting for to unlock his potential.
Morrison has been a target of the national team since 2015 but recently received his Jamaican passport, making him eligible to receive his call-up. Once heralded as a teenager by then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the best player he had seen at his age, he has since struggled for stability at club level during his career.
The former England youth product was brought on early in the second half, and despite showing some good touches and passing during the match, his debut yesterday lacked the fireworks that will be expected from him.
Hinds says that despite his frequent inconsistencies, the former United Academy standout can be a huge asset to the national programme.
TOO MANY MOVES
“Those that know Ravel’s history know that clearly, he’s a talent, but if you look at his football CV, he’s probably made too many moves to be truly consistent and show that talent,” Hinds told The Sunday Gleaner. “The Jamaican fans need to be excited because if he does showcase his ability properly, there’s a world-class talent there, but he needs to bring it together.”
His various stops have included England, Italy, Mexico, Sweden and the Netherlands, where he is currently signed to Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag. Categorising Morrison’s switch to the Reggae Boyz as “low risk, high reward”, Hinds says his call-up could bring about a change in his fortune.
“The international stage, in my opinion, might bring out the best in Ravel, so while it hasn’t maybe happened the way it should have done at club level, at international level, he may have found a home for himself,” Hinds said.
Local pundit Michael Hall says that there shouldn’t be immediate pressure placed on Morrison to make an impact, as he still needs to adapt to his new surroundings.
“He still has to integrate into whatever system that exists in the national team,” Hall said. “But getting somebody who obviously has the talent as he does will be a plus. I don’t think that the expectations should be too high, certainly not immediately.”
But Hall agrees with Hinds that Morrison may be in a better mindset to produce consistent performances.
“Obviously, he’s got ability and maybe some people take longer to mature emotionally than others do, and now he is in a place where he is happy and can really showcase his skills,” Hall said.