Jamaica will likely have enough firepower to get through their opening Copa America opponent on Sunday, but they’ll have to do it without one of their star defenders.
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Leicester City center back Wes Morgan will miss Sunday’s match against Venezuela after missing training this week. Jamaica manager Winfried Schafer said the Morgan will feature in the tournament, however, the 32-year-old is still “tired” after winning the Premier League just several weeks ago.
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Schafer told the Sunday Gleaner:“Our team is complete. Wes Morgan has come, but he is tired; that is clear,” Schafer said. “All week, he has not trained. He partied in London and Thailand, but I am very happy he is here and maybe he can help [play] in the second match, but not the first match because it is too difficult.
“We want to win. We have to win. It’s important. We watched 20 minutes of Costa Rica versus Venezuela and they are a very good team, good discipline. It will not be easy; it will be a very difficult match.”
Jamaica is coming off of a stellar performance at last summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, where the Reggae Boyz finished runners’ up to champions Mexico.
With Morgan set to miss the match against Venezuela, expect Chelsea’s Michael Hector to replace the veteran defender in the central defense. Hector spent last season on loan with Championship side Reading, making 26 appearances for the club and notching a goal.