Darren Mattocks, the most exciting first-year player in the MLS and the man considered the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year award in the league, was yesterday named to a Reggae Boyz squad of 24 for an encounter with the United States in Group A of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers at The Office next week.

The soon-to-be 22-year-old made his national team debut on August 15 in a friendly international against El Salvador, coming on as second-half substitute in Jamaica's 2-0 win.

Also included in the squad is the country's new central defensive pair of English Premier League team Reading's Adrian Mariappa and Watford's Nyron Nosworthy. Both played together at Watford before Mariappa's off-season move to the Premier League club. Both made their national debut together in a 1-0 win over Guyana at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. This encounter will mark their fifth game together for the country.

Rodolph Austin, who earned the status of cult hero after just one game for Leeds United with a performance which saw him bossing the midfield breaking up tackles, spraying passes forward and testing the opposing goalkeeper with a few long-ranged shots, is also included and is expected to be the engine of the team's midfield.

The Turkey-based Luton Shelton after his double strike against El Salvador, his first goals since the Gold Cup last June, should be full of confidence and eager to extend his record as the country's leading scorer.

Jamaica are seeking to take over the leadership of Group A as despite the fact that both teams are on four points after two games in the four-team group, they are being edged out of first place by the United States which have a superior goal difference.

The full squad: Goalkeepers:

Dwayne Miller, Duwayne Kerr , Jacomeno Barrett

Defenders:

Jermaine Taylor, Adrian Mariappa, Dicoy Williams, Andrae Campbell, Nyron Nosworthy, Shavar Thomas , Lovel Palmer, O'Brian Woodbine

Midfielders: Rodolph Austin, Je-Vaughn Watson, Errol Stevens, Jason Morrison, Ewan Grandison, Joel Senior.

Forwards: Luton Shelton, Ryan Johnson, Kavin Bryan, Dane Richards, Omar Cummings, Tramaine Stewart, Darren Mattocks.