COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – With strikers in short supply for the injury-depleted Colorado Rapids, Deshorn Brown will likely have to cut his time with the Jamaican national team short over the next few weeks.
According to the Jamaican international, the Rapids want Brown to return to Colorado this week to help plug the holes in their depleted attack. Brown was called up by Jamaica for three friendlies, starting with Monday night's match against Serbia at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. That might be the 23-year-old speedster's only appearance for the Reggae Boyz during this set of international games.
“I don’t really know what the process is right now,” Brown told reporters on Saturday night following the Rapids' 4-1 win over Montreal. “I think [Rapids technical director Paul] Bravo doesn’t want me to go there for so long. I think I’m supposed to play this game against Serbia and come back on Tuesday, but they haven’t finalized it yet, so I don’t know what’s going on.”
Brown left his club team immediately after the win to join up with the Reggae Boyz. He was called up to Jamaica for the first time last October and has netted twice in four appearances with his homeland. But with Colorado running low on strikers, Brown, who looked to be in improved form in recent weeks, will be needed with several attackers potentially out the next few weeks.
The team shut down striker Gabriel Torres until June 7 due to unspecified muscle damage, striker Edson Buddle limped off in the second half of Saturday’s win with a groin injury, and attacking midfielder Vicente Sánchez is likely out a few more weeks with a sprained knee.
And with Brown, who hit the post and looked dangerous several times on Saturday night, looking in better form, he knows his services are needed.
“I think [my form is] pretty good, but hopefully I can go there and show the same work ethic that I did tonight and whatever I have,” Brown said. “Hopefully, it’ll work in my favor and hopefully I’ll get some goals [with Jamaica] as well.”
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
