Grant ready to answer Reggae Boyz SOS
Published:Sunday | October 10, 2021 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
National midfielder Anthony Grant says that he is eager to jump back into the fold to bolster the team’s midfield in spite of his recent dip in club form in England.
Grant, who plays for English League Two side Swindon Town, was unavailable for Jamaica’s 2-0 defeat to the United States on Thursday but has joined the squad for today’s World Cup qualifying home fixture against Canada at the National Stadium at 5:00 p.m. He will also be available on Wednesday when the Reggae Boyz travel to Honduras.
Grant played his first two international games against Mexico and Costa Rica, respectively, both as a starter in September. However, since returning to his club after the international break, he has failed to make an appearance in his team’s last five games. Grant has played five times for Swindon so far this season, all of them as a starter.
Despite the lack of consistent game time, the 34-year-old Grant, who arrived in the island on Friday says that he feels fit and ready to perform for Jamaica in his defensive midfield role.
“I’m in good shape. I have been doing a lot of sessions back home with my club so hopefully, it will reap its rewards on Sunday (today),” Grant said.
Grant’s return to the team comes with Jamaica still searching for their first win of the campaign and with the future of head coach Theodore Whitmore also hanging in the balance. Additionally, it adds another player to a team that has been tested with squad issues. Injuries to some of the England-based players, including Reading’s Liam Moore and Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, ruled them out of the October window. Additionally, West Ham’s Michail Antonio withdrew from the team two days before the United States game citing logistical issues with his travel.
ONE POINT FROM 4
The Reggae Boyz have only one point from their four games so far in the qualifiers and are rooted to the bottom of the eight-team standings. However, Grant says that he does not need any extra motivation to deliver, present circumstances aside.
“No matter what game it is, I am always motivated. It could be a country that is ranked 250 in the world, I’m still motivated to win the game. Obviously, that is the plan on Sunday, to win the game and hopefully get three points,” Grant said.
Grant has had limited time with the team since being brought into the fold by Whitmore at the start of the campaign and says that he believes in his leadership to turn things around. In his short time with his teammates, Grant says that even with the early struggles, he has faith in their abilities both individually and collectively to rebound.
“We are still gelling as a team. We got good players. Once the team clicks, it will click. It might look like four wins, four losses, or one draw or two draws, you don’t know. But obviously we need to start picking up points and hopefully we will do that as a team,” Grant said.