MARC STAMP, STAR Sports

Jamaica's men's national senior football team will be without overseas-based attacking players Garath McCleary and Jobi McAnuff for the opening 2018 World Cup Qualification game starting next month.

McCleary has been ruled out because of injury received during the CONCACAF Scotiabank Gold Cup final against Mexico on July 26 in the United States. Mexico won the tournament 3-1.

On the other hand, McAnuff will not be considered for selection because of personal reasons.

"We will be without McLeary and McAnuff for the games against Nicaragua at the start of the World Cup campaign," Winfried Schäfer, Reggae Boyz coach, announced during a presentation by the team to three charities on Thursday at the Jamaica Football Federation offices in New Kingston.

Both players played important roles for Jamaica during the Copa America and Gold Cup tournaments recently.

McCleary plays as a winger for Reading FC in England. He made his international debut in 2013 and, in 17 appearances, scored three times. The 34-year-old McAnuff plays as a midfielder for Leyton Orient, also in England. He first represented Jamaica in 2002.

Jamaica will engage Nicaragua in a home- and-away two-game series, starting in Jamaica on Friday, September 4, at the National Stadium. The return game is away four days later.

The Reggae Boyz squad is expected to be announced by next weekend.