Shaw out for T&T friendly

The Reggae Girlz will be key players: Manchester City's Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw, Tottenham Hotspurs' Drew Spence and Club Leon Femenil's Trudy Carter, for their upcoming friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica will face Trinidad in an international friendly set for October 28 in Port-of-Spain.

Spence and Carter had both fallen out of contention because of injury, while Shaw's exclusion was decided after conversations between the striker, the federation, and her club, Busby explained while naming his squad yesterday in a Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) press conference.

"We have a camp slated next week in Trinidad from the 23rd to the 29th. It will be a reduced squad based on availability," Busby explained.

"Drew Spence has picked up a knock last week. Tottenham informed us they were going to hold her out and we hope that she'll be ready for the next round. Trudy was in the squad as well, but she picked up a knock."

He continued, "Bunny Shaw is out. Last week, I was in Manchester and I had a good conversation with Bunny and her group, including her physio, as well as our medical team. We're going to keep her out of this round."

PRIVATE INFORMATION

Following conversations with the club, it was decided she would remain in Manchester where she would be further monitored, and then join the squad next month for the Concacaf W Qualifiers.

"Obviously, there's some information that is private and remains between Man City and ourselves," Busby said.

"The concern is the potential of pitches and different things that we might have to experience. Rather than risk it all in a match that is a friendly, after all, we're taking the concern to kind of see how things are to make sure that she is coming back in, she'll be in great form."

The team will also be missing a number of its players from the United States collegiate system following discussions with their schools.

"They are in the midst of their season and they're heading into tournament play, not to mention an incredible scholastic workload that we've taken into consideration."

FINAL PREPARATION

The fixture against Trinidad will be used as final preparation for the W Qualifiers where Jamaica have been drawn in Group B, alongside Guyana, Nicaragua, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda.

Leading the team will be defender Allyson Swaby, who will be supported by veteran goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer.

Defender Tianna Harris, who plays for Portuguese club Damaiense, has been handed her first international call-up, while Reggae Girlz U20 captain Jaileah McPherson has earned another call to the senior set-up.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm