Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

THE INTERNATIONAL football famine is about to come to an end for fans of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz as they make a highly anticipated return to the National Stadium this evening to take on CONCACAF rivals, El Salvador, at 6:00 p.m.

Five long months have passed since the national team took part in their last international friendly, a forgettable 8-1 mauling at the hands of 46th-ranked Iran, during an ill-fated tour of Asia.

On the same trip, the team - then ranked 68th in the world - also suffered losses to Vietnam and Indonesia teams, ranked in the 140s.

Hope for new beginning

However, despite now being a lot closer to those teams now (having dropped to 104th), any fervent supporter of the once proud World Cup 1998 qualifiers will hope that today marks a new beginning for the Boyz.

The changes have been rung in for Jamaica since their 38-point slide in the world charts. An unpopular Crenston Boxhill administration has demitted office, leaving room for Captain Horace Burrell, the man at the helm when history was created.

The team has also parted ways with much-travelled, Serbian-born coach Velibor Milutinovic, paving what many believe is the road for the return of Brazilian coach René Simoes.

However, the most important changes will have to do with the personnel on the pitch.

Interim coach and former national talisman Theodore 'Tappa' Whit-more, who has been appointed for both today's friendly and Wednesday's game against Guatemala, will have a full strength national squad at his disposal.

Making steady progress since suffering an injury early in the season, Bolton Wanderers' Ricardo Gardner is expected to lead the contingent.

Gardner, who is expected to start in midfield, should have tricky Barnsley's winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Sheffield Wednesday's Jermaine Johnson for company, while up front a pairing of in-form Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller and Luton Shelton of Sheffield United could make for some exciting possibilities.

Also returning to national duties will be Khari Stephenson, who recently completed his season in Sweden, while Tyrone Marshall, who now plies his trade in Canada, and defensive strongman Damion Stewart of Queens Park Rangers and Shavar Thomas will look to make their presence felt in the final third.

'All responding well'

"We have been having very good training sessions. Everyone has been responding well, so we are just looking forward to going out and playing on Sunday," said Whitmore. "It will be business as usual. I'm very used to the setting, we haven't decided which system we will be using as yet, right now we are just concerned about everyone fitting in."

While called up to the team, veteran defender Ian Goodison, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and Omar Daley will arrive in the island today and not take part in today's friendly.