New Boyz bow into 2020-21 EPL season
As the curtain rises on a new English Premier League (EPL) season, British journalist Rodney Hinds said the recent international experiences for newly minted Reggae Boyz Ethan Pinnock and Andre Gray will serve them well, as they prepare for their respective campaigns.
Pinnock plays for newly promoted club Brentford. They will kick off the 2021/22 season this afternoon as they host Arsenal at 2 p.m. Jamaica time at the new Brentford Community Stadium.
Both players made their international debut for Jamaica this year with Gray participating in his first international tournament with the Boyz at the recently concluded 2021 Gold Cup.
Pinnock played a role in helping Brentford get to the EPL last season and Hinds says that his experience will help a backline that will have their hands full with the division’s top strikers.
“I think from Friday ( today) onwards when they are facing strikers of the calibre of (PierreEmerick) Aubamenyang ( Arsenal), ( Harry) Kane ( Tottenham), Romelu Lukaku ( Chelsea), I think that Pinnock and his defensive partner could be in for a lot of work,” Hinds told STAR Sports. “I think they will concede goals but I think they will also score goals as well. Knowing Ethan, he is a hard- working, reliable defender and I think his experience back there will be really key for what Brentford are trying to do. And all Brentford are attempting to do is just trying to avoid relegation.”
REQUIRED MOTIVATION
Brentford qualified for the EPL by winning the English Championship play- off final last season. Watford, meanwhile, are back in the EPL after a short absence, having finished second last season in the Championship. Hinds said Gray’s recent play with the Boyz will give him the required motivation to be an impact player for Watford this year.
“He is not going to get your 20, 25 goals a season but his experience and his maturity could be valuable,” Hinds said. “I think that when you are not necessarily a regular starter for your club, whatever you can do at the international level and do it well will give you confidence and that’s what they have with Andre Gray right now.”
Gray scored his first international goal in June in the Reggae Boyz’s 1- 1 draw against Serbia and netted five goals in 30 league appearances last season en route to getting promoted. Watford start their season tomorrow against Aston Villa featuring new signing, national winger Leon Bailey.