Molino, Phillips ruled out of Jamaica showdown; Yorke short of midfield options

Trinidad and Tobago will face Jamaica in a crucial World Cup qualifier tomorrow without team captain Kevin Molino and bustling midfielder Daniel Phillips, after both were ruled out due to an accumulation of cautions.

Molino, the only genuine creative midfielder in coach Dwight Yorke’s current squad, and Phillips both picked up yellow cards in Trinidad and Tobago’s 2-1 loss away to Costa Rica on 10 June and then in last Friday’s goalless draw against Curaçao at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

And, as Fifa opted not to reset its caution tally at the end of each Concacaf qualifying round, Molino and Phillips face the ultimate sanction for their indiscretions.

Molino is Trinidad and Tobago’s fifth highest all-time goal scorer with 26 goals from 72 caps.

Only four more active Trinidad and Tobago players have scored 10 or more international goals: Joevin Jones (13 from 101 caps), Reon Moore (12 from 27 caps), Levi Garcia (10 from 49 caps) and Ryan Telfer (10 from 31 caps).

Yorke has just Garcia and Telfer in his current squad from that list.

Trinidad and Tobago have never defeated Jamaica in a competitive match in the Land of Wood and Water—that job would be more difficult now without Molino and Phillips.

At present, Jamaica lead Group B with three points, followed by Curaçao and Trinidad and Tobago with one point each, while Bermuda are without a point.

Yorke, who used a 4-3-3 formation against Curaçao, named six midfielders in his 26-man squad for this Fifa match window, along with three goalkeepers, nine defenders and eight attackers. It means he had additional cover for every position except midfield.

And, when left back Andre Raymond was ruled out from last Friday’s affair due to injury, Yorke opted to use midfielder Noah Powder in his back four—ahead of back up Darnell Hospedales.

Yorke would probably be hesitant to dismantle a defence that, against Curaçao, produced only his second clean sheet from 13 games, by moving Powder back into midfield. However, his only remaining options are 21-year-old Colorado Rapids midfielder Wayne Frederick II and 25-year-old York United attacking midfielder Steffen Yeates.

Attacker Real Gill and flanker Kaihim Thomas, who were stand-bys last Friday, are expected to move to the substitutes’ bench to fill in.

Frederick, 21, produced a solid performance on his international debut against Saudi Arabia in a friendly last December. However, his only outing in red, white and black since then was for four minutes in a World Cup qualifier against Saint Kitts and Nevis on 6 June.

And he has not represented Colorado Rapids since May.

Yeates, who replaced Molino in the 83^rd minute against Curaçao, has 11 caps for Trinidad and Tobago with a goal against Cuba and an assist against The Bahamas to show for it.

The York United midfielder has a decent workrate but is yet to produce a truly memorable showing at international level.

Tomorrow, the pair may be vital to Trinidad and Tobago’s hopes of leaving Jamaica with a result.

Jamaica faced far more disruptions to their squad in this match window, with wingers Leon Bailey and Demarai Gray, goalkeeper Andre Blake, defenders Ethan Pinnock and Amari’i Bell and midfielder Joel Latibeaudierre all missing through injury.

Yet, without more than half of his starting team, coach Steve McClaren still had enough quality to cruise to a 4-0 win away to Bermuda.

Trinidad and Tobago should not be as straightforward an opponent.

“We respect Jamaica but we don’t fear them,” said Yorke, after Trinidad and Tobago’s goalless draw against Curaçao. “[…] They won’t be really looking forward to playing against us if we perform the way we can perform, certainly when you look at the second half.

“They are going to be in for a really tough game.”

Without Molino, Yorke would have to look elsewhere for the creativity needed to release his attacking trident of Garcia, Dante Sealy and Tyrese Spicer though.

For the Gold Cup, Yorke selected just two central defenders in a 26-man squad and was forced to field makeshift backlines due to injury to Sheldon Bateau and a dramatic loss of form by Alvin Jones and Darnell Hospedales.

Now, he might regret not including extra midfield cover, with Molik Khan, Duane Muckette, Dantaye Gilbert and Joevin Jones all available, but overlooked.

For Trinidad and Tobago football fans, it is time for a new hero to emerge in middle earth.

(Team)

Goalkeepers: Marvin Phillip, Jabari St Hillaire, Denzil Smith;

Defenders: Darnell Hospedales, Kobi Henry, Rio Cardines, Josiah Trimmingham, Justin Garcia, Isaiah Garcia, Kaihim Thomas, Jerrin Jackie;

Midfielders: Wayne Frederick II, Andre Rampersad, Noah Powder, Steffen Yeates,

Attackers: Nathaniel James, Levi Garcia, Ryan Telfer, Tyrese Spicer, Dante Sealy, Justin Obikwu, Real Gill, Kaïlé Auvray.

Doubtful: Andre Raymond,

Suspended: Daniel Phillips, Kevin Molino.

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Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.