Keeper saved from Ivan

City's Jamaican international caught the last flight out of the Caribbean before the severe weather front took a grip.

The hurricane has claimed 65 lives with winds gusting up to 155mph but Jamaica missed the worst of it.

Ricketts said: "I didn't want to leave my family but I rang back home and everyone is all right.

"The eye of the hurricane didn't pass directly over Jamaica. We had strong winds and rain but it could have been a lot worse - it certainly was not as bad as the other Caribbean islands.

"It was still frightening but they say we are blessed in Jamaica and luckily it wasn't too bad."

Ricketts is back in Bradford after playing for the Reggae Boyz in World Cup qualifiers against Panama and El Salvador.

But having joined City on a year's loan from Montego Bay club Village United, Ricketts has yet to feature in a proper game for his new club.

Apart from one pre-season outing in a closed-doors friendly at Middlesbrough, Ricketts has been forced to play second fiddle to Paul Henderson. The closest he has got so far is sitting on the bench as back-up keeper, which he did again at Wrexham on Saturday.

But the 6ft 6in giant will finally make his debut in a City shirt tomorrow afternoon when the reserves face Sheffield United at Chesterfield's Saltergate.

Ricketts, pictured, said: "It's been two months now and a long wait. It will feel good to get the first game under my belt.

"What has eased the pain is that I go back home to play internationals so I've been able to use this as my training ground for the World Cup games for Jamaica."

Ricketts spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton without managing to break into the first team and he is itching to make the step-up into the English game.

"It's been frustrating but Paul has done well and it's only fair to keep him in the team," he added.

"But if I get my chance hopefully I will do well and give the manager a problem as well. That is what I am aiming for."