Coach Steve McClaren rallies Reggae Boyz ahead of crucial USA clash

The journey toward next year's Concacaf Nations League Finals and Concacaf Gold Cup resumes on Thursday at 8:00 pm in Kingston where Jamaica will host the USA in the first leg of their two-game Nations League quarterfinal.

The quarterfinal series concludes on November 18 at CITYPARK in St. Louis, Missouri. The winner will book passage to both the Nations League Finals next March and the Gold Cup—the continental championship tournament—in June and July.

Ahead of the match, Jamaica national football team head coach Steve McClaren emphasised the need for mental resilience and consistency as his team prepares for the encounter.

The former England national team and Premier League manager is urging his players to seize the opportunity and embrace the challenge against the USA, who will be playing their first competitive match under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was hired in September.

“This is the game we’ve been working toward. Our main goal was to get out of the group and reach a stage to play against a big team that would challenge us, and there’s no bigger team than the USA. This is a step up and a test of how far we’ve come and where we need to get to,” McClaren said in a pre-match press conference.

Jamaica will be without key striker Michail Antonio, who is suspended for the match, while defender Ethan Pinnock is sidelined due to injury and Bobby Reid is unavailable because of the birth of his child. Despite these challenges, McClaren remains confident, relying on his squad's depth as he looks to a mix of experienced players and fresh talent to step up with determination.

“One of our principles is to be hard to beat,” McClaren emphasized, highlighting the need for both defensive solidity and confidence on the ball. “We have to handle the ball better, show bravery, and avoid giving away possession too easily. The last time we faced the USA, many of their chances came from transitions when we gave the ball away. That’s something we must control and be careful of. But the players have shown they have the mentality to win games and different ways to win games, and we’ll need all those ingredients against a very strong USA team,” he added.

To improve the Boyz’ possession game, McClaren is set to rely on Newcastle United’s Isaac Hayden, who is poised to make his debut in central midfield.

McClaren is hopeful that Isaac Hayden will play a crucial role in stabilising Jamaica’s build-up play and bringing more creativity to their attacking moves, helping them advance the ball effectively while maintaining control under pressure.

“This is likely one of the reasons we’re not creating enough chances. Isaac will be responsible for linking the play from the back to the front and helping us escape tight situations. We know he’s intelligent, and managing the ball is a key focus for us. By the time World Cup qualification rolls around next year, we want everyone in the squad to be comfortable with the ball, from the goalkeeper to the bench. We're working on that, but there’s still a long way to go,” McClaren said.

The USA lead the all-time series against Jamaica with 23 wins, 3 losses, and 10 draws since their first meeting in 1988. However, McClaren believes the Boyz have made significant progress in becoming a more formidable opponent. In the previous Nations League edition, Jamaica came close to securing a win, leading the USA from the first minute before conceding a stoppage-time goal and ultimately losing 3-1 in the semi-final.

For McClaren, Thursday's match is just one step towards a bigger goal. He sees it as an important part of building a consistent and competitive team with an eye on World Cup qualification.

“The key thing is consistency. We need to be consistent in what we do…with that consistency will come performance, and that’s how we progress and get better,” he explained. "We’re getting closer, and it’s only a matter of time. As long as we keep belief and confidence and don’t look at the opponent with fear, but as a challenge, and tomorrow, we want to embrace that challenge. I’m so encouraged by what I’ve seen that I’m excited about the future,” McClaren declared.

Hayden expressed his commitment to giving his best in the team’s bid to not only make another Nations League semi-final but also secure qualification to the next Concacaf Gold Cup.

“Anyone that knows me or has seen me play knows that I’m a highly committed player and someone that gives 110% every moment of every game, every training session. I always want to win. Obviously, we’ve got two massive games coming up, and I think it’s just for me to bed in, contribute as much as I can, however many minutes that is, and give 110% and see where that takes us,” said the 29-year-old Hayden, who has represented England at youth levels.

Hayden is the latest in a growing list of players targeted by McClaren as part of his strategy to strengthen the Reggae Boyz ahead of their World Cup campaign.