GOLDEN Jaguars head coach Michael Johnson has made it clear that there will be no preference in selecting players from his pool, both local and overseas, for Guyana’s highly anticipated CONCACAF Nations League Qualifier clash against Belize on March 23.

Guyana are one win away from qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and while the former Jamaican International is yet to shortlist his overseas-based players, locally, along with assistant coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, Johnson will choose from a group of 26 players; all of whom he said stand a very good chance of making the final selection.

Johnson said it’s unfair to compare the local-based players to their overseas teammates, since the likes of Neil Danns and Emery Welshman who are likely to feature in his final composition, are “paid handsomely to play on a high stage day in and day out. That’s their living, so of course you’ll expect the players overseas to be at a really good place.”

“But, coming into camp, I can already see that the advantages of a surface like this. Players are anxious to come in, they’re already honing their skills before we even start,” said Johnson.

Johnson, 45, told the gathering of media at GFF’s National Training Centre at Providence, that he’s looking “at this group of players with a fresh eye; everybody is in contention. This is why the camp is important because we can see which players are out-performing the other players who are trying to get in. It’s open for anyone who is coming in to compete.”

“I can’t rule out anyone who is in contention to make this squad; everybody has a chance to make the team, come March 23. Everyone is hungry to give his best. My job is to ensure everybody is tuned in to give 100%, to give nothing to doubt. My job is to ensure we give 100% of individual and collective performance,” the former Derby County defender stressed.

The Golden Jaguars drew 2-2 with Barbados, beat Turks & Caicos 8-0 and then lost to French Guiana 2-1, leaving their hopes of Gold Cup qualification in the balance, until CONCACAF ruled Barbados had fielded ineligible players in rounds one and two, and awarded Guyana a 3-0 win.

After three rounds, Guyana currently lie in eighth position in the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup qualification table with six points. After round four, the top ten teams will qualify for the 16-team Gold Cup, joining the United States, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama, Honduras and Costa Rica.