Watson replaces Beckford
HUDDERSFIELD striker Jermaine Beckford is out of the Reggae Boyz squad for Jamaica’s crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on Wednesday at high altitude famed Azteca Stadium.
The 29-year-old, who was due to make his debut for Jamaica, was ruled out after sustaining an injury recently, which could keep him out of action for at least three weeks.
Beckford is expected to be replaced by Houston Dynamo’s wily midfielder Jevaughn Watson in coach Theodore Whitmore’s 23-man squad.
The England-born Beckford was to be one of three newcomers to the Jamaica set-up. The others are Reading’s Garath McCleary and Derby County’s Theo Robinson, both strikers.
Beckford is currently on loan to English Championship side Huddersfield Town from Leicester City. The new Boyz recruit, who started his career as a trainee at Chelsea, has also played for Wealdstone, Uxbridge, Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United, Leeds United, and Everton.
Whitmore’s Mexico-bound squad will now read Donovan Ricketts, Dwayne Miller, Duwayne Kerr, Jermaine Johnson, Nyron Nosworthy, Damion Stewart, Alvas Powell, Adrian Mariappa, Omar Daley, Tramaine Stewart, Demar Phillips, Rodolph Austin, Marvin Elliott, Jason Morrison, Dane Richards, Joel ‘Jobi’ McAnuff, Garath McCleary, Jermainne Hue, Andre Lewis, Theo Robinson, Jermaine Taylor, Ryan Johnson.