Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

FRISCO, Texas, USA:

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, featuring only four starters from the squad which marched easily through their early round World Cup qualifying tie last month, will tackle near full strength El Salvador in a friendly football international this evening at the Pizza Hut Park here.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts has been named captain for the 6p.m. kickoff in the absence of Ricardo Gardner who, along with several regular senior players, are currently playing with their clubs overseas.

Ricketts is expected to be joined by defender Jermaine Taylor and midfielders Andy Williams and Evan Taylor from the 94th FIFA-ranked team which trounced The Bahamas by a 13-0 aggregate over two games in Jamaica. Fullback O'Brian Woodbine, who appeared as a substitute in both qualifying legs, is also expected to start.

However, the squad will be bolstered by the inclusion of newcomer Omar Cummings, who plays for the Colorado Rapids of the United States Major League Soccer (MLS).

Technical director Rene Simoes is keen to see an international performance from the speedy forward who has four goals and two assists for his club this season.

"This is a player who I have interest in," Simoes said of Cummings this week.

Williams, Cummings and midfielder Wolry Wolfe, who joined the squad from Trinidad, represent the thin overseas-based contingent in a probable Jamaica starting team. Most of this evening's players are contracted in Jamaica. That was not the case against The Bahamas, when the bulk of the squad flew in from England and the U.S.

Yet Simoes appeared confident his crop of local players can get the job done. Unlike when he first took charge of the Reggae Boyz in the mid-1990s, he said, this batch is better equipped.

"This group is very interesting, so much more mature than the group in 1994," Simoes said from his Texas hotel, prior to the team's training session on Thursday. "In reality they are more professional."

Team management insists all players are healthy and ready to go. A delay in receiving a U.S. visa caused midfielder JeVaughn Watson to join the Boyz late in Texas. While El Salvador chose a morning session yesterday, Jamaica trained in the evening closer to match time.

Simoes is hoping that the players this evening, apart from individually seeking to catch his eye with CONCACAF semi-final qualifiers starting next month with Canada on August 20 in mind, also show cohesion and willingness to execute his game plan.

"What I want is my team to understand the model of game I want," he said. "I have in my mind what I want. It is for them (the players) to carry that out. (But) I am pleased so far."

LAB RAT

El Salvador are unlikely to be willing lab rat for any Simoes experiment. Sources from the Central American team's camp is that only one major star - Eliseo Quintanilla - will be missing from the 117th FIFA-ranked 21-man squad. He is said to be involved in preseason training with his club in Costa Rica.

El Salvador should also be match sharp, having played to a 0-0 draw on Sunday against Guatemala in Los Angeles. Jamaica have not played a senior international game since The Bahamas on June 18.

On Thursday, Simoes indicated that he would likely use a 4-4-2 formation this evening, similar to what is expected from El Salvador. But the Brazilian could also choose a 4-5-1, with Cummings starting as the lone striker and a stacked midfield featuring Williams, Wolfe, Evan Taylor, Ricardo Cousins and Hugh Howell. Jermaine Taylor and Adrian Reid should anchor the central defence with Woodbine and Lance Laing as the fullbacks.

It is not clear how long influential midfielder Williams will play, as his club Real Salt Lake is scheduled for an MLS fixture on Monday.

Today's game will be the 16th meeting between the two countries, with Jamaica recording six wins, drawing four and losing five. The last time the teams met in November, Jamaica beat El Salvador 3-0 at the National Stadium.

SQUADS:

Jamaica: Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers, O'Brian Woodbine, Jermaine Taylor, Adrian Reid, Lance Laing, Keniel Moodie, Nathan Koo-Boothe, Ricardo Cousins, Hugh Howell, JeVaughn Watson, Eric Vernan, John-Ross Doyley, Evan Taylor, Kavin Bryan, Keammar Daley and James Thomas.

El Salvador: Juan Jose Gomez, Miquel Montes, Rolando Torres, Marvin Gonzalez, Manuel Salazar, Alfredo Pacheco, Shawn Martin, Ramon Sanchez, Salvador Coreas, Christian Castillo, Rudis Corrales, Williams Reyes, Ramon Floras, Jonathan Barrios, Rodolfo Zelaya, Emerson Umana, Osael Romero, Jose Martinez, Oscar Jiminez, Luis Anaya and Alex Escobar.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.

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