CHRISTCHURCH, Barbados — England-based Reggae Boy Jobi McAnuff will not be available for Jamaica’s friendly international versus St Lucia in Gros Islet on Wednesday.

McAnuff, as well as four other players based in England, were already set to miss today’s friendly here against Barbados due to club duties, but the Reading FC wide attacker was ruled out of the St Lucia clash after suffering a concussion.

“He unfortunately sustained a head injury in (club) training last Tuesday. He has been treated for concussion and is improving but his progress is not as speedy as anticipated.

“We got an update this morning after further assessment and we were advised that he won’t be able to travel and thus he’ll be out for the St Lucia game,” senior team manager Roy Simpson told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

“We got an update this morning after further assessment and we were advised that he won’t be able to travel and thus he’ll be out for the St Lucia game,” senior team manager Roy Simpson told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

The other England-based players who were expected to step in to tackle the St Lucians on the FIFA-approved match date are defenders Wes Morgan and Adrian Mariappa of Leicester City and Crystal Palace, respectively; Reading’s attacker Garath McCleary; and Leeds United’s midfielder Rodolph Austin.

Simpson said that plan remains on target.

“Based on information and communication from the other four persons they should travel and be available for the St Lucia game,” the manager said.

Meanwhile, coach Winfried Schaefer will have 17 players to choose from for tonight’s match against Barbados.

Nine players, including MLS number-one draft pick goalkeeper Andre Blake, and members of the technical staff departed Jamaica on Friday, while the United States-based Reggae Boyz either joined the contingent in Miami or flew separately to Barbados.

Three players, who were part of the Portmore United aggregation participating in an invitational tournament in the US, also met the rest of the squad here.

Schaefer is likely to send home three players to allow the four England-based Boyz to come in and leave him with an 18-man squad for the St Lucia encounter.

The Jamaicans face Barbados at the National Stadium in the nearby parish of St Michael, beginning at 8:30 pm (7:30 Ja time).