MLS duo gets first-time invite to Reggae Boyz training

Jamaica's national football coach, Theodore Whitmore, has convened a 27-man squad to commence preparation for the October 10 international friendly against Trinidad and Tobago at the National Stadium.

The Major League Soccer (MLS) duo - Columbus Crew defender Shaun Francis and Toronto FC striker Obrian White - have received first-time call-ups.

A former Ocho Rios High daCosta Cup representative, White played for Jamaica at every youth level - Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 - and was a member of the 2006 Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games team which qualified Jamaica for the Pan Am Games in 2007.

Also included are in-form midfielder San Jose Earthquakes' Khari Stephenson, who last played for Jamaica against Ecuador in 2009, and seasoned Stoke City forward Ricardo Fuller.

Ricardo Morris, a young midfielder from St James High who trained with the senior squad between August 2009 and March 2010 before undergoing a major surgery, has also earned a recall.

Last year's Manning Cup standout, Marvin Morgan, gets another invite. The former St George's College player, who currently represents Boys' Town in the Digicel Premier League, is looking forward to training sessions, which will begin on Tuesday, October 5.

Another test and exprience

"It is just another test and another experience with the senior team and I am looking forward to it," said Morgan. "Physically, it prepares me and mentally also because while with them, you are learning how to cope in the professional environment and how to deal with certain situations."

Jamaica, which is currently ranked 76th in the world, defeated the 97th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 in their August 11 encounter in Trinidad.

Both teams are preparing for finals of the Digicel Caribbean Championships that will be held in November.

Whitmore has constantly emphasised that these international friendly games allow the technical staff to look at different combinations of players ahead of the Gold Cup, and World Cup qualifiers next year. The technical staff further intends to use these games to continue the process of evaluating the players, while seeking to maintain and develop in them and the team a winning mentality.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Andre Blake (Sporting Central Academy), Duwayne Kerr (Portmore United), Richard McCallum (Waterhouse).

Defenders: Shavar Thomas (Kansas City Wizards), Shaun Francis (Columbus Crew), Jermaine Taylor (St Georges Sports Club), Adrian Reid (PortmoreUnited), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View).

Midfielders: Khari Stephenson (San Jose Earthquakes), Rudolph Austin (SK Brann), Richard Edwards (Harbour View), Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Keammar Daley (Tivoli Gardens), Eric Vernan (Portmore United), Ricardo Cousins (Portmore United), Troy Smith (Village United), Oliver Trail (Village United), Kenardo Forbes (Waterhouse), Devon Williams (St George's College), Marvin Morgan (Boys' Town).

Strikers: Devon Hodges (Tivoli Gardens), Ricardo Morris (St. James High), Andre Clennon (Waterhouse), Ryan Johnson (San Jose Earthquakes), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City), Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls), O'Brian White (Toronto FC).