Chelsea’s Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards has been called up at the 11^th hour to replace Demarai Gray as the Reggae Boyz prepare to play Curacao in their World Cup qualifier on Friday.

The 19-year-old Richards, who turns 20 on November 10, last represented Jamaica in 2023, with one goal in his 10 caps.

His selection might come as a surprise to many, seeing that he has just recovered from injury, but head coach Steve McClaren said he has been following the progress of the talented winger.

“I followed Whisper since I got the job. He had an injury but I followed his progress this summer. I have been in contact with Chelsea every week about his condition. He played 90 minutes last week,” said McClaren.

He is somebody I want to have in the squad, and two, to have a look at his character and personality to see if he fits in the group perfectly,” he explained. “It’s short notice, losing Demarai is a big blow, he is one of our best players, we are really disappointed, but it gives somebody else the opportunity to come in and Whisper has done that.”

Richards, who came to prominence at Kingston College, where he scored over 30 goals in the schoolboy season, notably four times in KC’s 4-2 win against a powerful Clarendon College, the all-island champions.

In March 2023, he was snapped up by Chelsea and signed a pre-contract deal, but would join the club after his 18th birthday.

In June 2023, he scored his senior goal in Jamaica’s 4-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, becoming the nation’s youngest goalscorer in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

On February 8, 2024, Richards debuted for Chelsea’s Under-18 in a FA Youth Cup match. He is yet to make his senior debut for Chelsea.