Jamaica’s start to this summer’s Copa America Centenario was anything but ideal, and now the Reggae Boyz will have to play the rest of the tournament without one of their best defenders.
New York Red Bulls wing back Kemar Lawrence will reportedly miss the rest of Copa America after suffering a groin injury in Jamaica’s opening match loss to Venezuela on Sunday.
Lawrence, 23, is expected to miss four to six weeks after leaving the Venezuela game in the 40th minute. The Red Bulls defender was replaced by Jamaican captain and Leicester City center back Wes Morgan.
According to the Jamaica Observer, Lawrence’s injury was pre-existing and he likely suffered more damage during the Venezuela match.
Jamaica’s squad will be reduced from 23 to 21 players for their upcoming Group C match against Mexico, with Lawrence now done for the tournament and midfielder Rodolph Austin suspended for one match after receiving a red card against the Venezuelans.
Can someone explain why he was allowed to play with a pre-existing injury — presumably the same one that has kept him from playing for RBNY recently?