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Ravel returns as Boyz face T&T in Unity Cup
May 27, 2025
In an unexpected contradiction to several comments he made last week, Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren has recalled Ravel Morrison into the national programme as the team gets set to take on Trinidad and Tobago today in the opening game of the Unity Cup.
Jamaica will face Trinidad at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, United Kingdom (UK) in the first game of the four-team tournament, set to kick off at 1 p.m. Jamaica time.
Speaking ahead of the Unity Cup last week, McClaren had stated that Morrison was not in consideration for the upcoming fixtures due to the standard of the league he currently plays in.
Morrison plies his trade in the United Arab Emirates third division, with his club Precision FC.
"When I look around at the players, the first thing I check is what league they are playing in and what the quality of football is like in that league," the Reggae Boyz boss had explained.
"So that standard dictates where that player is at in the present moment, and Ravel is not where we want him to be at the present moment."
Yet, just days after his comments, Morrison was a late addition to McClaren's squad, and trained with the team yesterday in the UK.
Should he play, his presence could provide a boost to a Reggae Boyz unit missing key players due to injuries and fatigue.
Di'Shon Bernard and Bobby Reid are out due to injury, and several other players were left out of the squad, having just ended their season.
Another key name, Michail Antonio, is still out due to injury after being involved in a one-vehicle car accident last year.
Antonio, however, was present at training yesterday, and his name has been added in the preliminary 60-man squad for the Concacaf Gold Cup.
IMPORTANT PREPARATION
McClaren said Jamaica's participation in the Unity Cup will be important for their participation for the Gold Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers set to begin next month.
He explained several key players will return for fixtures after the Unity Cup, with this tournament being used to introduce both local and new players to the programme.
"Let's not forget, this is a build up to World Cup Qualification and the Gold Cup. That is why we have picked this squad, that is our goal and this is just a step towards that," McClaren said
He also encouraged fans in the diaspora to come out in their numbers to support the team in their first appearance in England in over a decade.
Jamaica last played in England in 2014, when they drew 2-2 with Egypt.
"For the Jamaican supporters living in London, this is a great opportunity for them to come and see the real team," he said.
"They have probably watched them from afar and have never seen them before so this is an opportunity for everybody who is Jamaican and lives in London to come and watch the Jamaican team against very good oppositions."
The winner of the match will advance to the final where they will face either Nigeria or Ghana, depending on the result of their match.
