Fitzgerald: Starting XI deserve Gold Cup call

Molynes United head coach Calvert Fitzgerald says that the starting X1 that played in Jamaica's 1-1 draw against Serbia yesterday deserved to be retained for the upcoming Gold Cup tournament.

Watford striker Andre Gray scored his first international goal in his second consecutive game for the Reggae Boyz in the 29th minute at the Miki Athletic Stadium in Hyogo, Japan. Ranhinja Pavlovic got the equaliser for the 25th-ranked Serbians in the 61st minute with a well taken effort past Humble Lion goalkeeper Dennis Taylor.

The game was the first of a revised two-game tour of the country as their first game slated for last week Thursday against Japan was cancelled because Jamaica could not field a full team. Only 10 players were in the country at the time as several overseas-based players experienced travel issues which prevented them from joining the rest of the squad.

Four of yesterday's starters including Gray, defenders Liam Moore, Adrian Mariappa and Amari Bell played in the March friendly in the United States. Defender Damion Lowe who captained the team for the game returned after missing the US game along with Devon Williams, Oneil Fisher and Javon East. Whitmore gave newcomer Blair Turgott his international debut.

Fitzgerald said he was pleased with the overall performances of the players and says that despite members of the core group returning, he believes that the starters should feature in head coach Theodore Whitmore's Gold Cup tournament squad.

"I don't really envy Tappa (Whitmore) on that task because when those players come in, there are going to have more than the amount and some people are definitely going to be left out. It's kind of difficult," Fitzgerald told STAR Sports. "But I think everybody on the starting X1 yesterday did enough to cement a place in that Gold Cup squad."

International debut

Fitzgerald said that he was impressed with the play of Turgott who, on his international debut, provided the assist for the goal. While also commending Gray for his play, he believes that the inclusion of a true centre forward for the game would have benefited the team.

"The only thing that I see lacking yesterday was an all out striker that can play through the middle. We scored a good goal but most of the attacking forwards they are coming in from the flanks. We have three forwards who can play through the middle really well in Michail Antonio, Shamar Nicholson and Cory Burke," Fitzgerald said. "It was a pity that we didn't have one of them there to hold up the ball."

Antonio is still undergoing the process of acquiring his passport to make his international switch from England to Jamaica official while players such as Burke, Nicholson and captain Andre Blake were unavailable because of club commitments, injuries and other personal reasons.

While the Serbians had most of the possession in the early stages, Jamaica defended well and managed to take their chance just before the half hour mark as Turgott's pass found Gray where he then went around the onrushing Serbian keeper Dorde Nikolic and calmly finished from a tight angle. Dejan Joveljic had a chance to level the match two minutes before half time but his header was comfortably held by Taylor.

Pavlovic got the Serbians back into the game 16 minutes into the second half, collecting his own rebound and slotting his effort in the corner of the net. Pavlovic preserved the draw for Serbia as his crucial block denied Gray his brace and a potential game winner in the 73rd minute.

Jamaica will face the Japanese Olympic team on Friday night at 11:35 p.m. (Jamaica time) to conclude their tour.