Manchester schoolboy in Boyz 18

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Manchester High forward Jason Johnson is the only newcomer named in the Reggae Boyz's 18-man squad which will leave the island today for South America, where they will play world number eight-ranked Argentina in an international friendly next Wednesday.

Johnson, who played an integral role in guiding Manchester to the 2009 daCosta Cup final and finished as the second highest goalscorer, has been chosen along with New York Red Bull's Dane Richards, Colorado Rapids' Omar Cummings, Rivoli United's Devon Hodges, Tivoli Gardens' Navion Boyd and Keammar Daley as the strikers in the squad.

Johnson is one of several high school footballers who were recently invited to train with the national squad - first for last week's Canada international which the team won 1-0, and now for the Argentina clash.

The midfielders are Rodolph Austin, who plies his trade in Norway, Harbour View's Lovel Palmer and Richard Edwards, Sporting Central's Jevaughn Watson and Ryan Johnson of San Jose Earthquakes, while the defenders are Philadelphia Union's Shavar Thomas, Harbour View's Dicoy Williams, Chengdu Blades (China) Demar Stewart, St Georges' Jermaine Taylor and Portmore United's Adrian Reid.

Goalkeepers Dwayne Miller (Harbour View) and Dwayne Kerr (Portmore) round off the squad.

World Cup campaign

It will be the second game of Jamaica's 2014 World Cup campaign which began with the Canada friendly on Sunday. Argentina will use the game to prepare for this summer's FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Jamaica squad: Dwayne Miller, Dwayne Kerr, Rodolph Austin, Demar Stewart, Jermaine Taylor, Shavar Thomas, Adrian Reid, Lovell Palmer, Ryan Johnson, Richard Edwards, Dicoy Williams, Devon Hodges, Jevaughn Watson, Dane Richards, Omar Cummings, Navion Boyd, Keammar Daley and Jason Johnson