‘IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK’
Captain Blake excited by Reggae Boyz return
Having fully recovered from an injury that forced him to miss this year’s Copa America tournament in the summer, Reggae Boyz goalkeeper and captain Andre Blake is delighted to return to the national fold and is eager to get started under Steve McClaren’s tenure.
Blake, who plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the Philadelphia Union, said that he is looking forward to leading the Reggae Boyz onto the field against Cuba in their Nations League Group B encounter at the National Stadium today.
The match will be McClaren’s first game in charge of the Reggae Boyz since his appointment as head coach on July 31.
“It is always good to be back with the Boyz. The energy is good, the vibes are right in the camp,” said Blake. “It was tough for me not being able to be with the Boyz, especially in the Copa America.”
Blake, who missed over a month of action after undergoing a meniscus surgery on his right knee, is confident that he has fully recovered from the operation after surviving a busy stretch of matches with his MLS club.
“I am good because I have played 11 games since I’ve been back, and those were quick-succession games. I guess you can say that was the test, and I have passed the test, so I am good to go,” Blake said.
The 33-year-old Blake, who has 75 caps for the national team since making his debut in 2014, has made the most appearances by a Jamaican in MLS, with 240 matches under his belt.
The Reggae Boyz had a disappointing showing at the Copa America tournament this summer in the United States, losing all three matches under then Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.
Hallgrimsson would eventually step aside in the aftermath of that failed campaign, paving the way for the ex-Manchester United and England manager.
Blake, who despite the Copa America showing, believes that the team played well in patches, and remains optimistic that they will improve on those performances under new coach McClaren, who oversaw his first training session with the team on Monday.
“I think they did well for the most part, but the game can be defined by small margins, and unfortunately, we fell short,” Blake said.
“I think we are heading in the right direction, and with Steve coming in and implementing a new strategy, we are excited. We are looking forward to it, and I think there are great things to come,” Blake added.
After the Cuba assignment, the Jamaicans will travel to Honduras where they will play the hosts on Tuesday.