By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Jermaine Taylor (left) and Kevin Lamey stretch during a Reggae Boyz practice session at Boys' Town yesterday. The team leaves the island tomorrow for a friendly against Canada on Monday. - Ricardo Makyn

National football coach Carl Brown said a professional attitude by his players is just as important as winning against Canada in their upcoming friendly.

Brown tried to instil some of that professionalism yesterday during the third day of practice at Boys' Town.

Improve attitude

"My goal is to improve the attitude of the players. I really enjoy what they have given me in our three sessions here and hope that they take this into the game. A good result for me would be to see good attitude on the field from the players," Brown said.

"This is a different level from when they play club football and since we have a number of players from the Premier League, something I would really love to see them develop is the attitude that is needed at the international level," added Brown who is on his fifth stint as coach until November 15.

Jamaica will play Canada at the Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal on Monday with a return game scheduled for October 8 at the National Stadium.

Fifteen of the 22 invitees have been attending training. Brown said he would most likely stick with the 4-4-2 formation but that Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who will join the team today, will have an impact on the set-up.

Best performer

"A lot will depend on what I get from Jamal when he gets here," said Brown of the player who was Jamaica's best performer in the 6-0 loss to England on June 3.

"He will probably be an influential factor in what sort of formation we play."

Brown admitted that he doesn't know a lot about the Canadians but that he has a good idea of what to expect.

"I saw the Canadian team about five months ago in Florida and I'm getting some additional information," Brown said.

"But they (like us) are building too. From all indications they will not get most of their players that they have in Europe either so we expect them to be playing home-grown players."

Brown said he has identified an assistant and that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) would make it public before the game.

The coach also said the only new invitee in the squad, Boys' Town defender Xavean Virgo, would most likely make his debut.

The 20-year-old said he has been well received by the players.

"It doesn't really feel as if I'm a newcomer because the other guys treat me as if I've been here a long time, so it's all good," said Virgo.

Virgo, who played Manning Cup football at Camperdown, also said he is looking forward to playing and impressing.

True patriot

"One of the main things is to get a game and prove that I'm ready and willing to play for my country."

The Reggae Boyz last tasted victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer. A victory against Canada on Monday would not only halt a losing streak but improve Jamaica's record against Canada.

The Canadians have won five of the previous nine encounters. Three ended in a draw and Jamaica won one.

Canada are currently undefeated since a 2-1 loss to Spain on September 3, 2005. They have not allowed a goal in their last three friendlies since November 16, 2005, with a 1-0 win over Luxembourg, a 0-0 draw with the United States on January 22, in San Diego, California, and most recently, a 2-0 win over Austria on March 1 in Vienna, Austria.

The team leaves tomorrow at approximately 7 a.m.