Just a few weeks ago, young striker Rumarn Burrell stood starstruck in London as he nervously asked West Ham United’s Michail Antonio for a photo. Now, as Jamaica prepares for a must-win Concacaf Gold Cup Group C clash against Guadeloupe, the 22-year-old finds himself sharing a dressing room, and footballing duties, with the same man who once felt out of reach.

Antonio, who made a miraculous return from a broken leg suffered in a December car crash, has been a quiet but powerful influence since rejoining the squad, and Burrell, Jamaica’s emerging frontman, is soaking up every moment.

"It’s really great. He’s a striker I’ve looked up to for a long time. He gives a lot of tips, so just being able to play alongside him, to listen to his advice, and to learn from him is a great experience,” Burrell said.

The road to the Reggae Boyz Gold Cup squad has not been smooth for Burrell. In fact, before January, his season with Burton Albion was anything but headline-grabbing, as he was buried in the pecking order and rarely saw minutes on the pitch.

But instead of sulking, Burrell stayed ready, physically and mentally, and made the most of the opportunity when called upon, as he tallied 11 goals at the end of the campaign.

"I wasn’t playing, but I prayed hard, and I kept telling myself the moment would come, so for me, it was just staying ready for my chance. When January arrived, I got my shot. So, whether I started a game or not, I just stayed ready, stayed consistent, and kept scoring some goals from January,” he shared.

That quiet resilience did not go unnoticed. He was invited into the Reggae Boyz setup by head coach Steve McClaren for the Unity Cup in England, and after a strong run, Burrell earned his first tournament call-up.

"For me, it's a great experience. All these players have been in different clubs, and they've had a good past few years. So for me it's been a great experience playing in the Unity Cup, and it's a great opportunity for me to represent Jamaica, you know, to play internationally—it's a dream come true,” Burrell declared.

With the Boyz campaign off to a rocky start with a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Guatemala, the pressure is now on, as they must beat Guadeloupe at PayPal Park on Friday and Panama next Tuesday to keep their hopes alive.

Burrell knows the stakes.

"The team wants to get to the next round, and personally, I just want to contribute. I want to be useful to the team in any way I can. I definitely think we are growing as a team; the chemistry is getting better, and even from my individual standpoint, I have a better understanding of the team, and I've seen how the team works. So I just want to give my best,” he noted.

Finally, with players like Bobby Decordova-Reid returning to the fold, Burrell said the camp is buzzing again ahead of the high-stakes encounter.

“It's great to see him. So, having him back is pretty great. Obviously, he's a great reinforcement,” Burrell ended.