It was confirmed earlier this week that the teenager will join Chelsea when he turns 18 later this year and Dujuan Richards marked the occasion in style, having been called up by Jamaica for their CONCACAF Gold Cup squad after making his senior international debut in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in March.

It was against the same opponents he made his first competitive appearance in the early hours of this morning, UK time, meaning three of his four international caps so far have come in games against that country. Known locally as the ‘Caribbean Clasico’, it is the first time the two rivals have ever met in the Gold Cup.

Richards started the game among the substitutes as Jamaica’s all-Premier League front four of Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Leon Bailey and Bobby de Cordova-Reid helped the Reggae Boyz to a 3-0 lead by half-time, with Gray scoring twice and Bailey getting the other.

Trinidad and Tobago came back and were arguably the better side after the break, pulling one goal back, but Richards made the victory safe after replacing Aston Villa forward Bailey for the final eight minutes of the game.

There was certainly no shortage of confidence from the teenager. As he carried the ball forward in injury time and the defenders backed off to give him space, Richards took the invitation to drill a low left-footed effort at goal from 30 yards, which was helped on its way into the bottom corner by a deflection off defender Kareem Moses. There was no question it was Richards’ goal, though, his first in senior international football.

Elsewhere at the Gold Cup, Chelsea goalkeeper Gaga Slonina was an unused substitute for hosts the USA as they thrashed Saint Kitts and Nevis 6-0, also in Group A.

That leaves Jamaica and the USA level on four points at the top of the group ahead of the final round of games early on Sunday morning, when Jamaica face Saint Kitts and Nevis while the USA take on Trinidad and Tobago. Both teams need a draw to be guaranteed of qualifying for the quarter-finals.