Shabazz names 24-man squad for Montserrat clash; no space for Kellman

Tré Mitford (on the ball) is one of two new players based in England who have been awarded a maiden call-up

Shabazz had explained to News Room Sport that they opted to allow Kellman to continue playing for his Kansas City II club in the MLS Next Pro league, given “solid midfield options available.”

He did say when they return to Guyana for matches against Bermuda (June 7) and Haiti (June 11) at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, he will add some players to the squad.

Though Montserrat has a population of under 5,000, its squad is expected to comprise players predominantly based in the United Kingdom.

Just like Guyana, they would have lost 6-1 to Trinidad and Tobago in their Gold Cup preliminaries last year, but prior to that, they had an unbeaten run in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Guyana is currently placed 174^th by FIFA and 21^st in Concacaf, and it is only Montserrat at 178^th and 28^th behind the South American nation in terms of opponents they have to face in the coming days.

The ultimate aim of the Golden Jaguars is to qualify for another Gold Cup finals, and a direct spot will come if they top their group.

Further, there is another chance if they finish second place in the group and then contest the Gold Cup preliminaries.

But based on rankings it means Golden Jaguars will have to slay higher-ranked opponents if they are to replicate the journey to a maiden Gold Cup spot in 2019.

Golden Jaguars squad for Monsterrat clash

Goalkeepers: Alex Murray, Quillan Roberts, Akel Clarke

Defenders: Marcus Wilson, Quincy Adams, Jalen Jones, Jeremy Garrett, Matthew Briggs, Leo Lovell, Sam Cox

Midfielders: Daniel Wilson, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Clive Nobrega, Job Caesar, Neil Danns, Ryan Hackett

Forwards: Trayon Bobb, Kelsey Benjamin, Terell Ondaan, Pernell Schultz, Anthony Jeffrey, Omari Glasgow, Tré Mitford, Stephen Duke McKenna