Reggae Boy Moore emphasises defensive consistency

NATIONAL DEFENDER Liam Moore has emphasised the importance of continuing their positive defensive trend as preparations continue towards their World Cup qualifying game against El Salvador on Friday.

Moore returns to the squad after missing out on the October international duty because of an injury while playing for his English Championship club Reading. He has only played one game since the campaign started, which was the 3-0 home defeat against Panama in September.

The Reggae Boyz have managed to produce consecutive clean sheets, after starting the campaign conceding eight from their first four games. Moore said he was pleased with the progress made in October, but was adamant that they have to continue the momentum.

"Last window was a successful window in terms of we got more points on the board. It's what we needed. I watched the games back from the UK when I was injured and I thought there were some positives, some clean sheets," Moore said.

"(In) talking about moving forward now, it will be just continuing to grow from that. We've got to keep more clean sheets and get as many points on the board as we can to put us in a good position for the international fixtures coming up in the new year."

Moore will be working with a new face, compared to his previous call-ups, with fullback Gregory Leigh, who last played for Reggae Boyz in November 2020, recalled to the squad. Moore says that he is not worried about settling back in with the new additions.

"In terms of the new players, things are really easy. Things click really quickly. Greg (Leigh) was at the airport, for example, someone who I have not played with and within five minutes we had so much to talk about," Moore said.

"The vibe now is just all building towards the game at the back end of this week. And then after that, it will be focus on the game against the USA. And as I said, we are trying to add as many points on the board as we can," he reasoned.

Moore partnered with Brentford centre back Ethan Pinnock in the Panama defeat, his first international game at the National Stadium. Adrian Mariappa and Damion Lowe have been the starting centre back pairing, but Moore's return could mean options for head coach Theodore Whitmore.

Pinnock was left off the squad for the November slate of games.

Jamaica are currently in sixth place in the eight-team table with five points.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com