VERSATILE national defender Jermaine Taylor is itching to get back into the fray.

Taylor missed the Reggae Boyz 0-1 loss to Mexico at the National Stadium in Kingston on Tuesday due to a ligament injury to the shoulder he picked up over two weeks ago playing for Houston Dynamo in the US Major League Soccer (MLS) competition.

Taylor remained largely composed, watching from the stands as the Mexicans took three points in the vital World Cup qualifying battle, but one could sense the yearning in his expressions. The 28-year-old wanted to be out there!

His words soon completed the picture.

“You never want to sit on the sidelines or in the stands and watch a game. Most times you will think you can help when you are on the pitch. I’m anxious to get back out there, but obviously I can’t and that’s a part of life… I have to take it as it is,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“So I come to watch the game and give my full support because it will take that on and off the field to get us to Brazil 2014,” he added.

The player, who represented St George’s SC of Portland and Harbour View on the local football scene before tying down a long-awaited deal in the MLS, said he has another three weeks before the healing is completed.

“The injury means I’m out for a six-week period. I’m just in my third week so I have three weeks from now before I can do any physical activity.

“It’s a dislocated shoulder and right now where that is concerned I had a bruised bone, torn ligaments inside there and everything,” Taylor said, while explaining that he suffered the injury after falling awkwardly in a headed challenge with a New England Revolution opponent.

The defender said that while he is anxious to return, he has been cautious in handling the recovery process.

“I’m doing strengthening work, rehab and stuff like that. But I have to take it easy and be careful of physical activities and monitor it day by day. I have to work on my strength in that area because that is more important than anything else.

“I’m looking forward to return (to competitive action), but right now I’m working with light rubbers to strengthen the area because you want to make sure that everything inside (the shoulder) is healed properly before you can do any form of work like using iron (weights),” he said.