TAKE YOUR CHANCE – Jamaica Observer

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Jamaica's Jamal Lowe.

General manager of Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Roy Simpson is urging winger Jamal Lowe, a late call-up to the Reggae Boyz team, to seize this opportunity to secure his place in the national set-up.

Lowe, 30, who last played for the Reggae Boyz in March of this year, was called up to replace the injured Leon Bailey in Jamaica’s 23-man squad for their Nations League games against Cuba at the National Stadium on Friday and next Tuesday away to Honduras.

Lowe, who plays for Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship, has scored two goals in seven appearances for the Reggae Boyz since making his debut in 2021.

However, he was overlooked for the country’s second-round World Cup qualifier games against Dominica and the Dominican Republic, respectively, as well as the Copa America tournament earlier this summer.

Simpson emphasised that Lowe has always been a committed player, and he hopes that with this opportunity, he will perform at his best.

“Jamal has always been on our radar. He has often been in the provisional squads, but he hasn’t been selected for some of the final squads,” said Simpson. “The technical team has always been in dialogue with him, and we believe he is someone who can help us.”

“Jamal is a decent player who has always given his best. He’s been around the team for several years now, and he’s one of our UK-based players, who committed to Jamaica years ago. It’s always good to have Jamal back in the squad, and hopefully, as usual, he will make the most of this recent call-up,” Simpson added.

Simpson also highlighted that Lowe is a skilled and versatile player who brings a lot of experience and depth to the Reggae Boyz squad, and he is happy that he has been recalled to the national side.

“It’s always good when the squad remains competitive, and when each player gets an opportunity, they make the most of it. Hopefully, Jamal, coming in for Leon, will seize that opportunity,” Simpson noted. “I know he will certainly do well for us, and I’m looking forward to having him here for these matches.”

Lowe, who was born in England, has scored one goal in four appearances for Sheffield Wednesday this season.

Meanwhile, Bailey sustained what appears to be a hamstring injury during Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Simpson explained that Bailey was expected to undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the extent of the injury.

“Leon felt stiffness in his left hamstring after stretching for a ball in the game, and afterward, he was in pain and experiencing muscle contractions, so he will be getting an MRI scan today (Monday), and the results will be shared,” Simpson said.

“It’s always a concern when any of our players get injured because we understand that being fit and healthy is crucial in their line of work. We want them to be fit and healthy at all times, so when any player gets injured, it’s always a concern for us,” he added.

The 27-year-old Bailey has not represented the Reggae Boyz since November 2023, following a self-imposed break that came after a suspension from former Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. He also declined a call-up to the Copa America tournament in the United States this summer. However, he was recalled to the national side after meeting with Head Coach Steve McClaren and mending his relationship with the JFF.

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