MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica– Defender Alvas Powell is doubtful to start Jamaica’s crucial Group B game against Antigua and Barbuda in the 2014 CFU Caribbean Cup at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Friday.

Game time is 8:00 pm.

Powell, 20, who plays professionally in the US Major League for the Portland Timbers, sustained “the foot injury” during Jamaica’s 1-1 draw against Martinique on Wednesday night and had to be substituted in the 82nd minute by Waterhouse FC’s Hughan Gray.

Team physiotherapist Julia Cousins told OBSERVER ONLINE that she would not want to commit and say that the former Portmore and Jamaica youth standout is a doubtful starter at this time.

“All I can say is that we will assess him later tonight (Thursday) and make a decision. But we are hopeful,” she said at a downsized training session at the Half Moon Hotel earlier Thursday.

Only 13 players, including the three goalkeepers, were taken through paces under the watchful eyes of head coach Winfried Schaefer and his assistant Miquel Coley.

The other 10 members of the squad, who started the game on Wednesday against Martinique, were taken through a recovery session back at the team’s base at the Holiday Inn Sunspree.

Schaefer, meanwhile, did not give a starting 11 for the game on Friday against the Antiguans, claiming that he is considering at least three changes from the previous game and won’t make a decision on that until Friday morning.

Sean Williams