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Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have suffered a huge setback ahead of what promises to be their toughest match in the final round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, with one of the team's highest profile striker, Jermaine Beckford, will not make his scheduled international debut for the country due to injury.
The 29-year-old Beckford, who plays for English Championship team Huddersfield Town suffered a hamstring injury after coming on as a 86th-minute substitute against Crystal Place on Wednesday. He had to be replaced by Alan Lee in the 90th minute.
Beckford, who came through the ranks at Chelsea and previously represented Everton in the English Premier League, was expected to lead Jamaica's front line against the Mexicans. Beckford had made 12 appearances for his club so far this season, scoring four goals.
Houston Dynamo's midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson has been called up to replace Beckford in the squad.
"He will definitely be out and Je-Vaughn Watson will replace him," head coach Theodore Whitmore confirmed. "Losing any player is a big blow."
The forwards that Whitmore will now have to choose from are Dane Richards, Theo Robinson and Ryan Johnson.
"I am confident and I am positive with the 23 (men squad) that we have selected," Whitmore said.
"Based on the game I saw last night (Wednesday) between Mexico and Denmark, I have no regrets about the 23 that I have picked."
FIFA's world 23rd ranked Denmark had to come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw, with the highest-ranked team from North America in their international friendly played on Wednesday at the University of Phoenix Stadium, in the USA.
ideal replacement
With speedy forward Luton Shelton absent from the squad due to injury, Darren Mattocks seemed an ideal replacement. Mattocks hit a hat-trick for Vancouver Whitecaps in a 4-1 win over New England Revolution in their Major League Soccer preseason match on Wednesday.
Whitmore previously said that Mattocks was overlooked because MLS is in preseason and therefore he would not be as sharp as the other forwards, yet Ryan Johnson, who plays for Portland Timbers has been included.
"Ryan Johnson is more experienced than Darren Mattocks and that is our choice to pick Ryan Johnson over Darren Mattocks," Whitmore explained.
- R.J.
The 29-year-old Beckford, who plays for English Championship team Huddersfield Town suffered a hamstring injury after coming on as a 86th-minute substitute against Crystal Place on Wednesday. He had to be replaced by Alan Lee in the 90th minute.
Beckford, who came through the ranks at Chelsea and previously represented Everton in the English Premier League, was expected to lead Jamaica's front line against the Mexicans. Beckford had made 12 appearances for his club so far this season, scoring four goals.
Houston Dynamo's midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson has been called up to replace Beckford in the squad.
"He will definitely be out and Je-Vaughn Watson will replace him," head coach Theodore Whitmore confirmed. "Losing any player is a big blow."
The forwards that Whitmore will now have to choose from are Dane Richards, Theo Robinson and Ryan Johnson.
"I am confident and I am positive with the 23 (men squad) that we have selected," Whitmore said.
"Based on the game I saw last night (Wednesday) between Mexico and Denmark, I have no regrets about the 23 that I have picked."
FIFA's world 23rd ranked Denmark had to come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw, with the highest-ranked team from North America in their international friendly played on Wednesday at the University of Phoenix Stadium, in the USA.
ideal replacement
With speedy forward Luton Shelton absent from the squad due to injury, Darren Mattocks seemed an ideal replacement. Mattocks hit a hat-trick for Vancouver Whitecaps in a 4-1 win over New England Revolution in their Major League Soccer preseason match on Wednesday.
Whitmore previously said that Mattocks was overlooked because MLS is in preseason and therefore he would not be as sharp as the other forwards, yet Ryan Johnson, who plays for Portland Timbers has been included.
"Ryan Johnson is more experienced than Darren Mattocks and that is our choice to pick Ryan Johnson over Darren Mattocks," Whitmore explained.
- R.J.
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