Jamaica’s Head Coach Steve McClaren has made it clear that his team will not be taking St Vincent and the Grenadines lightly when they clash in the first of two CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers in Kingstown on Friday night. While the Reggae Boyz boast a significantly higher ranking and a strong squad, McClaren insists that the opposition has the quality to pose a real threat.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday ahead of Friday night's clash, McClaren said, “We've watched them a lot over the last five or six games. They've prepared well, and they have some good players that can hurt you. So I have stressed to the team that this is not going to be easy. What I've realised in my six months in the Caribbean is that there are no easy games. They're all different, and tomorrow will be the same. We have to adapt, accept, and win.”

Despite Jamaica’s 63rd-place FIFA ranking compared to St Vincent’s 173rd, McClaren cautioned against assuming an easy fixture. He referenced St Vincent’s performances against El Salvador, where they narrowly lost one match and won the other in the dying moments, as proof that they are a competitive side.

“The big danger is complacency,” McClaren warned. “The big danger is coming here and thinking it will be an easy game, and it won’t be. From what I’ve seen, they certainly look better than their ranking suggests. We will find out tomorrow, and it’s up to us to get the job done.”

"They certainly look better than their ranking suggests," - Steve McLaren

Jamaica will be bolstered by the return of key players, including Ethan Pinnock and Bobby Decordova-Reid, who were absent for their Nations League semi-final against the United States last November. Their presence, McClaren believes, will bring leadership and stability to the team.

“We’ve brought over a very strong squad. We’ve got Damari Gray, Leon Bailey, Shamar Nicholson, Richard King—who’s been doing well in the Caribbean Cup—Amari’i Bell, and Andre Blake. It’s a strong squad, a strong team, and I expect us to prepare well and do the business tomorrow.”

The Reggae Boyz have had just three days of preparation after finalizing their squad on Tuesday, but McClaren remains confident that his players are ready for the challenge.

Jamaica will look to secure a crucial away victory before returning home for the second leg, as they aim to book their spot in the Gold Cup and continue their regional dominance.