Rangers star Kemar Roofe as been called up to a much-changed Jamaica squad as they prepare for the upcoming international break.
But alongside a host of UK-based players, the 28-year-old Rangers striker will only be able to play in the Reggae Boyz upcoming match with Panama in Kingston.
Jamaica are set for a triple-header of World Cup Qualifiers over the next fortnight with matches against Mexico (03/09), Panama (05/09) and Costa Rica (09/09) on the horizon.
However only the clash with Panama is set to take place on home soil with current Covid-19 rules meaning UK-based players cannot travel to red list countries.
Jamaica is currently on the UK’s amber list amid the ongoing pandemic.
As a result, Jamaica have named a bolstered 35-man squad with twelve of those names based in the United Kingdom.
These include the likes of West Ham United’s Michael Antonio, Reading’s Liam Moore, Derby’s Ravel Morrison, Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey and Preston’s Daniel Johnson.
The move to call up the likes of Roofe comes after Jamaican FA President Michael Ricketts confirmed in March the nation was set to push players of Jamaican descent to secure passports ahead of the World Cup in 2022.
“I see Andre Gray, Demarai Gray, Isaac Hayden, who actually approached the JFF about representing us,” said Ricketts [Daily Mail].
“Mason Holgate, Liam Moore, who already has his Jamaican passport, Nathan Redmond, Kemar Roofe and Ivan Toney. All of these we are in the process of acquiring their Jamaican passports.
“The process is becoming a little tedious because of the pandemic but the process is ongoing and we are hopeful we will get the passports for these gentlemen in reasonable time.”
Signing these players up for international duty represents a huge boost to Jamaica’s chances and as things begin to settle they’ll certainly feel the benefit with an improved team and squad.
Meanwhile, one family member has given an update regarding the situation surrounding one heavily exit-linked Gers star reportedly set to leave Ibrox.