Houston Dynamo forward Giles Barnes and Portland Timbers right back Alvas Powell were among six MLS players named to Jamaica's 30-man preliminary roster for the 2015 Copa América, which was revealed Tuedsay.
Other current MLS players on the roster are defenders Jermaine Taylor (Dynamo), Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls) and forward Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps). They are joined by 19-year-old D.C. United Homegrown forward Michael Seaton, who is currently on loan with Orebro SK in Sweden.
Missing from the list was Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, who suffered a meniscus tear last week and will miss 4-6 weeks.
Two ex-MLSers also made the initial cut for Jamaica's German head coach Winfried Schafer: forwards Simon Dawkins, formerly with the San Jose Earthquakes, and Deshorn Brown, who moved from the Colorado Rapids to Norway's Valerenga in the offseason.
There are also three other US/Canadian connections on the roster in Pittsburgh Riverhounds goalkeeper Ryan Thompson, FC Edmonton midfielder Lance Laing, and University of North Carolina midfielder Omar Holness.
The final 23-man roster for the tournament must be submitted to CONMEBOL, South American soccer's governing body, no later than June 1 – 10 days prior to the start of the tournament. According to CONMEBOL, players are required to be released by their clubs on Monday, June 1.
This year's edition of the Copa América will take place in Chile from June 11-July 4. Jamaica have been placed in Group B, where they will face Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The Reggae Boyz will also be participating in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, set to take place from July 7-26.
