Everton’s Demarai Gray makes the cut for Jamaica’s Gold Cup squad

Everton’s attacking midfielder Demarai Gray was on Monday selected by head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson among the 23 players registered with the regional governing body CONCACAF for this year ’ s edition of the Gold Cup tournament which kicks off on Saturday

The soon-to-be 27-year-old who only recently received his Jamaican passport and finalization documents validating his switch of allegiance from England to Jamaica, is the only newcomer in the squad

Hallgrimsson was pleased with his addition and believes his characteristics fit in perfectly with the DNA of the Jamaican player

“We are extremely happy, and he’s really eager to come,” beamed the coach at Monday’s press conference to announce the team

The coach also explained that had the player received all his documents earlier he would have been a part of the pre-Gold Cup camp in Austria

“A player, I think fits the playing style of Jamaica He has flair, he has speed, he’s a dribbler, he’s a goal scorer and for most things, he’s a good individual and a good personality and I think will bring a lot of things into our camp and we are looking forward to meeting him in the US,” added Hallgrimsson

The coach also explained in detail the fact that defender Ethan Pinnock will miss at least the first game against the defending champion United States on Saturday

“Before we go further I think it is, because we always want to be honest and avoid confusion in our meetings, the only player who cannot come to Chicago is Ethan Pinnock We all knew that his wife was giving birth to their fourth child It’s a healthy girl and we would like to use this opportunity to congratulate them on that Everything was going well but there were some complications now with his wife after coming home, so it’s a critical situation

“Normally a coach or coaching staff would say it’s personal reasons but we both agree that we should share it with you guys Now it is nothing more important in your life than your family, then football will be put aside ”

He said his staff is monitoring the situation with Pinnock’s family and as soon as they think it’s time and all fears allayed, the player would join the squad

The coach has asked the country to support the players as he believes that this was the best crop of players which could have been selected

“These are the players we think can do a good job for Jamaica in the Gold Cup Could we have selected others, for sure, but these are the guys we select and think is best to do the job for us I hope Jamaicans will support these players even though you think that someone might have been there instead of these guys who will represent Jamaica and we certainly wish that Jamaicans will support them in the Gold Cup

He added: “After the tournament, we can talk about this one or that one should have been in instead of this one, but on the Cup let’s support these guys who will do their best to represent Jamaica ”

Hallgrimsson admits that the expectations [of winning the Gold Cup] are the same “I think we have the players and the quality to go and reach the final stages in this tournament and what we did two years ago, four years ago, six years ago or 10 years ago, doesn’t help us or it doesn’t destroy anything for us, it’s just in the now and it’s the day when we face US, are we ready?

The coach says his team doesn’t fear them [US] and we know they have a good squad and they are playing at home in front of their people, but it’s going to be a good and exciting game, the most important thing in a tournament like this is not to lose the first game

“A draw is always a good point from the first game so you are alive until the end of the group phase ” LOG