Reggae Boyz for Nigeria game

[Mosiah]

When the Reggae Boyz run out against Nigeria in an international friendly at the New Den Stadium in London, England on February 11, 2009, there could be two newcomers in the Jamaican lineup.

Twenty-five year-old defender Tyrone Mears and 23-year-old Darren Pratley, a midfielder were included in the squad of 20 named by the coaching staff of Jamaica’s national team to face the Africans at the home of the Millwall Football Club.

Mears, a right wingback who is listed at 5’10, is currently on loan at French club Marseille where is a teammate of the rising Nigerian Star, Taye Taiwo, who plays at left wingback. Mears, described as a pacy player, was previously attached to Manchester city and West Ham before earning a £1M move to Derby County from where he was loaned to Marseille.

Pratley, a six-footer, is a midfielder who started his career at Arsenal before joining Fulham where he made his professional debut. He was loaned out to Brentford before being signed by Swansea City.

Besides Mears and Pratley, the team is largely made up of overseas-based players. Only goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers and defender Eric Vernan, the most valuable player in the Digicel Caribbean Championships, the finals of which were held in Jamaica in December, are locally-based.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, recently signed by Major League Soccer (MLS) team LA Galaxy was also named in the team.

FULL SQUAD: Goalkeepers - Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy), Shawn Sawyers (Portmore United);

Defenders - Ricardo Gardner (Bolton Wanderers), Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers), Claude Davis (Derby County), Damion Stewart (Queens Park Rangers), Tyrone Marshall Toronto FC), Tyrone Mears (Marseille, France), Eric Vernan (Portmore United);

Midfielders- Rodolph Austin (SK Brann), Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros), Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday), Demar Phillips (Stoke City), Omar Daley (Bradford City), Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnsley), Darren Pratley (Swansea City);

Forwards - Marlon King (Hull City), Dane Richards (Red Bull New York), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City) and Luton Shelton (Valerenga).

[TheDread]

Didn't Tyrone Mears play with Fuller at Preston?

[Assasin]

that is what i was wondering but it seems like it was a older player.

[Assasin]

[edit] Manchester City

Mears came through the ranks at Manchester City and signed trainee forms in August 2001.[1] Mears only made one appearance for City, replacing Stuart Pearce as a substitute in the 84-minute against Nottingham Forest in March 2002.[2] On Manchester City's promotion to the FA Premier League in 2002, Mears' first-team opportunities became limited and he was sold to Preston North End.

[edit] Preston North End

Mears joined Preston in July 2002 for a fee of £200,000.[1] He signed a three-year contract and was expected to provide cover for Graham Alexander.[3] He made his debut for Preston as a substitute in a 3-3 draw with Walsall in October 2002[1][4] and went on to make a total of 24 league and cup appearances in the 2002-03 season as Preston finished in mid-table of the Football League Championship.[1] He made only 14 appearances in the 2003-04 season and five in the 2004-05 season as a stress fracture put him out of the game for ten months.[1][5] Despite his long-term injury, he was offered and signed a further three-year contract in March 2005, saying "I was out for 10 months so you worry about what is going to happen to you. You need to be in the team but Preston have been very good to me and I can't speak more highly of the manager. Last season to get the stress fracture was very hard but that's all behind me now and I'm looking forward to a fresh start with a three-year deal."[5] He made 39 league and cup appearances in the 2005-06 season as Preston reached the Championship play-offs semi-final.[1] During that season, instead of having his surname Mears on the back of his shirt, he had his nickname "Tye", a rare occurrence in English football. In July 2006, after rejecting two bids from Charlton, Preston accepted an offer for Mears from West Ham.[6]

[edit] West Ham United

Mears signed for West Ham for an initial £1 million in July 2006, rising to £1.9 million depending on appearances and possible future international recognition with England.[6] However, he was only to make six league and cup appearances for West Ham as he struggled to break into the first team.[1] He memorably produced an athletic overhead clearance on the line after Stilian Petrov lobbed West Ham keeper Roy Carroll in a match against Aston Villa in September 2006.[7]

[edit] Derby County

With his opportunities in the West Ham first-team limited, he was allowed to join Derby County on loan until the end of the 2006-07 season in January 2007.[8] Derby manager, Billy Davies, who had managed Mears at his previous club, Preston, said of him, ""He is a very attacking full-back with excellent pace who adds great competition. Ideally we would like to make this deal permanent in the summer."[8] He made his debut as an 84th minute substitute in a 1-0 win at Southampton on 3 February 2007[9] and went on to make a total of 17 league and cup appearances[1] as Derby were promoted to the Premier League after beating West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-off final in May 2007.[10] Mears then joined Derby permanently for £1 million in July 2007, signing a three-year contract.[11] Manager Billy Davies said, ""We're delighted with this deal. Tye is a very good young full back with excellent pace and potential. We need him for the challenge ahead and I know he is committed to working hard."[11] A stress fracture sustained in January 2008 ruled him out for three months of the 2007–08 season.[12] Mears scored his first goal for Derby against Leeds United in a 2-0 win on the last day of the 06/07 season. Mears scored his second goal for Derby in April 2008 against his former club West Ham.

[edit] Olympique de Marseille

On August 29, 2008 Mears caused controversy when he flew to France to go on trial with Olympique de Marseille without the express permission of Derby manager Paul Jewell.[13] Jewell responded, saying that Mears will never play for the club again whilst he is in charge.[14]Mears was fined six weeks wages by County for going on the trial with Marseille, a fee of less than £75,000. Mears was given six weeks in which to appeal the punishment.[15] Following the trial, the clubs agreed that Mears would go on loan to Marseille for the duration of the 2008/09 season, for a loan fee of £160,000, with the French club having the option to buy him for £1.5m at the end of the loan.[16]

[Dre]

isnt swansea the club walter boyd use to play for