Coach John Barnes with the National U-20 Team

GEORGETOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS- New Jamaica head coach John Barnes will tomorrow be able to better assess the task ahead of him as he leads his charges in a practice match against a Cayman Islands All-Star team at the Truman Bodden Stadium here in the Cayman Islands.

Barnes is using the week-long camp to prepare the team for the finals of the Digicel Caribbean Championships which is being hosted in Jamaica from December 1-15. For this game, the former England international said he will be mostly interested in seeing a cohesive performance from his charges.

“I am looking for a cohesive performance. That is pretty important to have them playing as a unit,” said the Jamaican-born coach who took up his post on November 1.

“The more we work together the better we will get and I would really like to see us get better at what I like to call game management and ball retention,” he added.

After just two sessions in charge, the former Watford and Liverpool star said the players have been very receptive.

“They have responded very well in much the way I expected them to. They have all tried to make an impression but what I have tried to impress upon them is that the best way to impress me is not by showing how skillful they are individually but how responsible they can be as a member of the team,” added Barnes.

Having not seen this group of players play as a team before Barnes will be relying on his assistant, former Reggae Boy and the man, who has rejuvenated the country’s chance of qualifying for the World Cup, Theodore Whitmore. Whitmore he said will be relied on for advice especially players’ best positions.

Barnes, consistent with his early pronouncement that players will be selected on merit, will try to involve as many players as possible.

“For this game I will try to involve as many players for as long as possible.

“I will speak to the referee to see how many changes are allowed and based on that decide. For Sunday’s game the situation could be different in that fewer changes could be allowed as it will be a full international,” Barnes explained.

Among those who could figure are forward Jermaine Anderson who had his second of two caps in 2002, former Jamaica Under-23 captain, utility player Desmond Breakenridge who last represented the national team three years ago and forward Roland Dean whose last cap was in 2006.

Others such as second string national goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers, Jermaine Taylor, Keniel Moodie, Jermaine Hue, Evan Taylor, Ricardo Cousins and Eric Vernan should also see action. Denzil Watson could make his debut while the Noway-based Rodolph Austin and Omar Cummings may not see any action as they arrive in the island on Wednesday morning.

Jamaica’s Full Squad: Goalkeepers – Shawn Sawyers (Portmore) and Dwayne Miller (Harbour View); Defenders - Jermaine Taylor (Harbour View), Keniel Moodie (Reno), Lance Laing (Harbour View), Adrian Reid (Portmore), Desmond Breakenridge (Arnett Gardens), Andre Darby (Portmore) and Andre Campbell (Portmore); Midfielders – Rodolph Austin (FC Brann, Norway), Eric Vernan (Portmore), Nicholy Finlayson (Reno), Evan Taylor (Reno), Ricardo Cousins (Portmore), Jermaine Hue (Harbour View); Forwards - Roland Dean (Tivoli Gardens), Jermaine Anderson (Waterhouse), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Denzil Watson (Boys’ Town) and Marcelino Blackburn (Harbour View).