Wes Morgan Subbed On vs. Venezuela After Being Benched for Partying

Jamaica centre-back Wes Morgan was set to miss the start of his nation's 2016 Copa America campaign on Sunday after partying took its toll, but the Leicester City captain was put on as a first-half substitute against Venezuela.

Prior to the match, head coach Winfried Schafer told the Jamaican newspaper the Sunday Gleaner (h/t the Guardian) the defender was lacking in match fitness after he helped guide Leicester to the Premier League crown last season and said his star is "tired" after revelling in that success.

He said: "Morgan has come, but he is tired; that is clear. All week, he has not trained. He partied in London and Thailand, but I am very happy he is here, and maybe he can help in the second match but not the first match because it is too difficult."

However, after a red card to Rudolph Austin in the 22nd minute, Schafer put Morgan on in place of Kemar Lawrence.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Despite coming off the bench, eyebrows are bound to be raised following Morgan's reason for being left out of the starting lineup for the fixture, as emphasised by Yahoo's Kristan Heneage:

Football writer Mark O'Haire joined those heralding the news as something not often seen at the elite level.

On one hand, some will argue Morgan's commitment at club level of late—he played every minute of the Premier League title charge in 2015-16—means his lack of fitness was somewhat acceptable.

On the other, a centenary Copa America is a historic occasion in itself, and others may fall under the belief Morgan could have cut short his club celebrations in order to be fully ready to chase further silverware with his international team-mates.