Burnley winger Richards receives Jamaican World Cup call

Richards has been named in a 23-man squad for Jamaica’s opening game in the final round of the North, Central America and Caribbean qualifying section for Brazil 2014.

The winger, who signed for the Clarets from Vancouver Whitecaps at the start of January, joins Turf Moor team-mates Danny Lafferty and Sam Vokes on international duty.

Lafferty has flown out with Northern Ireland for a friendly in Malta on Wednesday night, while Vokes joined up with Wales ahead of their home game against Austria on the same night after the pair helped Burnley draw 2-2 at Peterborough last Saturday.

Richards keeps his place in the Jamaica squad despite playing just a handful of minutes for the Clarets since his arrival from the MLS, ending his season-long stay with Vancouver at the start of November following their play-off defeat to Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 29-year-old played a key role in helping the Reggae Boyz keep their World Cup hopes alive as his two late goals last October earned them the win over Antigua and Barbuda they needed to squeeze through from the third phase of qualifying.

Jamaica are now in a six-team group with the top three earning a place in Brazil and the fourth-placed country going forward to an intercontinental play-off, starting their bid for a repeat of their appearance in the 1998 finals with a trip to Mexico City.

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