Stoke City midfielder Daniel Johnson was anticipated to be on a plane to the United States this week, but he will instead be returning to the Potteries. Daniel Johnson was left out of Jamaica’s Copa America squad by head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, who surprised everyone with his roster announcement.
The Stoke City midfielder, 31, came off the bench in a 3-2 World Cup qualifying win over Dominica on Sunday and began a 1-0 win against the Dominican Republic last Thursday. However, he was not included in a 26-man squad to travel to the United States, which was announced overnight at Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records.
There were call-ups for winger Demarai Gray, who is now with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq, and Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock, who had both missed recent action due to injury, while captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake was summoned despite surgery that will keep him out until the end of the tournament, if Jamaica is still involved. The biggest surprise was the choice of Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, who has all but retired from international football. The 26-year-old was suspended for allegedly violating curfew during an international camp last November.
Bailey’s agent, Craig Butler, wrote on social media: “Leon Bailey has announced that he is taking a hiatus from the Jamaica national team for his mental health and to spend time with his family. “His position has not changed.”
The picked players are set to fly to Houston on June 16 to begin the campaign with a match against Mexico on June 22. There are further group matches against Ecuador and Venezuela. The competition will last until July 14.
Johnson will be free to join Stoke, who return to Clayton Wood for pre-season training on July 1. He only started one league game after Christmas for Steven Schumacher in 2023/24, and he has one year left on his contract.
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