Veteran Reggae Boy defender Claude Davis admits to being impressed by the current crop of players and believes it augurs well for the team's chances of advancing to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

After being absent from the national squad for nearly three years, the 33 year-old defender was recalled for national duty in February and admits that he was a bit sceptical about the make-up of the squad.

"When I met up with the team in New Zealand a few months ago, when I saw the squad I was like where are they taking these kids? Not in a disrespectful manner but I knew the quality of the New Zealand team," Davis told STAR Sports.

However, after spending some time with the 'kids' who defeated New Zealand 3-2 on home style the centre half had a total new point of view.

"After one training session I said to myself, Claude you are wrong. In the first 10 minutes of the game, I had to admit these guys are really good, they are confident, bold and proved me right. These young players are so much more advanced than I was a few years ago, they are so much more experienced and more exposed, we have a really good crop of players."

overseas-based players

Davis joined up with the 24-man squad, who will tackle Guyana on Friday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, earlier this week. The team includes nine other overseas-based players, including the Watford pair of Nyron Nosworthy and Adrian Mariappa, who had a strong season for the Championship division team. Davis' former centre back partner Damion Stewart has also been included in the team.

In addition to those players, while not selected for this trip, the pair of Shavar Thomas and Jermaine Taylor could also be in the running for spots in the final squad, with all those players vying for a spot Davis believes competition will be fierce.

"We have some players that we have just added from overseas, I have played against a few of them and they are good boys so I have to watch myself. There is a lot of competition for places now, we have a lot of good players," Davis said.

Having been recalled to the unit, however, the player is determined to fight for a spot in his final opportunity to get to the World Cup.

"This is the main job this my last crack at it and I will give it my all, there is nothing bigger than playing in the World Cup," he added.

"I'm the same committed player I have always said this is a privilege and not a right, I was absent for a few years there is nothing I could do about that but keep my head down."