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Richards, Nicholson, Dixon among players not called for World Cup play-offs
The Reggae Boyz will go into this month’s crucial FIFA World Cup play-offs without several of their regular stars, and one Premier League-winning coach believes it’s a risky move from interim Head Coach Rudolph Speid.
The national senior men’s team will head to Mexico next week as they look to secure a spot at this summer’s World Cup by beating New Caledonia of Oceania and DR Congo of Africa in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Striker Nicholson along with Leicester City winger Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, Charlton Athletic forward Kaheim Dixon, Wolverhampton Wanderers right back Dexter Lembikisa, and Mansfield Town midfielder Jon Russell are all expected to be omitted from the squad.
As revealed by the Observer last Saturday, striker Michail Antonio will also be left out despite making his club return in the Qatar Stars League last week.
It’s understood that the players don’t meet the selection criteria implemented by Speid in January.
Former Harbour View FC Head Coach Ludlow Bernard, who won the Jamaica Premier League in 2022, believes performance for the national team should outweigh the set criteria, pointing to the displays of Nicholson, Dixon and Richards during the qualifiers. However, Bernard says that Speid’s playing philosophy could influence the squad selection, though admitting that leaving them out would be a gamble.
“Maybe a player like Nicholson probably is not going to suit what he wants, but then at the same time, where the centre forward position is concerned, I don’t think we are gifted with a number of options, so we have to be very careful with people like Nicholson, Richards and Dixon,” he told the Observer.
“So it all comes down to probably Coach Speid’s tactics that he’ll be employing and he’s looking for the personnel to really fit in. But of course, it is going to cause some amount of consternation when news like this gets out to the public about the various omissions, so you have to have some very credible options.”
While the Observer hasn’t obtained the full squad, it’s understood that Coventry City star Ephron Mason-Clark, Sheffield United winger Andre Brooks and Tottenham academy prospect Tyrese Hall will be the newcomers in the squad, after receiving their Jamaican passports.
Twenty-six-year-old winger Mason-Clark is on the verge of Premier League promotion, with his seven goals and seven assists helping to lift Coventry to the top of the English Championship table.
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/03/17/left-out/
The Reggae Boyz will go into this month’s crucial FIFA World Cup play-offs without several of their regular stars, and one Premier League-winning coach believes it’s a risky move from interim Head Coach Rudolph Speid.
The national senior men’s team will head to Mexico next week as they look to secure a spot at this summer’s World Cup by beating New Caledonia of Oceania and DR Congo of Africa in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Striker Nicholson along with Leicester City winger Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, Charlton Athletic forward Kaheim Dixon, Wolverhampton Wanderers right back Dexter Lembikisa, and Mansfield Town midfielder Jon Russell are all expected to be omitted from the squad.
As revealed by the Observer last Saturday, striker Michail Antonio will also be left out despite making his club return in the Qatar Stars League last week.
It’s understood that the players don’t meet the selection criteria implemented by Speid in January.
Former Harbour View FC Head Coach Ludlow Bernard, who won the Jamaica Premier League in 2022, believes performance for the national team should outweigh the set criteria, pointing to the displays of Nicholson, Dixon and Richards during the qualifiers. However, Bernard says that Speid’s playing philosophy could influence the squad selection, though admitting that leaving them out would be a gamble.
“Maybe a player like Nicholson probably is not going to suit what he wants, but then at the same time, where the centre forward position is concerned, I don’t think we are gifted with a number of options, so we have to be very careful with people like Nicholson, Richards and Dixon,” he told the Observer.
“So it all comes down to probably Coach Speid’s tactics that he’ll be employing and he’s looking for the personnel to really fit in. But of course, it is going to cause some amount of consternation when news like this gets out to the public about the various omissions, so you have to have some very credible options.”
While the Observer hasn’t obtained the full squad, it’s understood that Coventry City star Ephron Mason-Clark, Sheffield United winger Andre Brooks and Tottenham academy prospect Tyrese Hall will be the newcomers in the squad, after receiving their Jamaican passports.
Twenty-six-year-old winger Mason-Clark is on the verge of Premier League promotion, with his seven goals and seven assists helping to lift Coventry to the top of the English Championship table.
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/03/17/left-out/
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015