Barnes

Jamaica's head coach John Barnes is confident that local-based players will perform on the big stage ahead of this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, which will be held in the United States in July.

As part of their preparation for the Gold Cup, the Reggae Boyz will play a number of friendly international matches, the first of which is against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, tomorrow.

"I have no fears about these local boys coming in here and doing a good job for us," said Barnes, a former Liverpool star, before his team's training session at Winchester Park on Tuesday.

"I am impressed with them, but I am not surprised by their qualities. I think that the local players are as talented as the overseas-based players, but what they do not have is the experience and the exposure and this is all they need to elevate themselves to the next level," Barnes said.

"I think that any one of them can certainly win a place in this team," Barnes said while adding that there are still a number of overseas players that are left to join the squad.

"However, if they (overseas-based players) are unable to make it, I will be very comfortable with these players that we have here, even if we have to go to the Gold Cup with them because I have seen what they can do," he said. He remarked that the coaching staff can help these players with their tactical abilities and awareness.

"I think that once we organise them and we empower them and let them play with discipline, then they will be fine," he added.

Barnes stated that he is familiar with the players because most of them were selected to tour the Cayman Islands last year and also played in the Caribbean Cup competition. However, Barnes noted that he was impressed with first-time invitee Nicholas Addlery, who was among eight first-time invitees to the squad. The others are Devon Hodges, Jerry Walters, Bryan Bayliss, Dicoy Williams, Michael Campbell, Kenardo Forbes and George Vernal.

"The one that has impressed me a lot just in two days is Nicholas Addlery and I have never heard of him before. I know that he has had a good scoring record in Puerto Rico and looks very sharp in training," he said.

National team

Addlery

The 27-year-old Addlery, who is a former Jamaica College Manning Cup star said he was delighted to be invited to the national team.

"I am feeling good. I also feel blessed because this is a wonderful opportunity for me to further my career and to help the national programme," said Addlery, who has scored five goals in 10 matches so far this season.

"I have been hoping and waiting for quite a few years for this call-up and I just have to work hard every day to maintain my place in this team," he said.