Mason Greenwood is on the list
The Jamaican FA are reportedly looking at giving international caps to several English born footballers who qualify to play for both nations through their parents or grandparents.
Gareth Southgate is expected to meet with players who are eligible to represent Jamaica and try to persuade them to play for England. The Yorkshire Evening Post are reporting that Kalvin Phillips, a holding midfielder for Leeds United, is one of these players. Southgate wants to cap Phillips in a UEFA Nations League game in September, according to reports.
Other players Southgate is keen to cap before Jamaica beat him to it are understood to include Mason Greenwood, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mason Holgate.
Agent Devon Porter, who has been recommending players to the Jamaican FA since 1996, has said that a number of these players are interested in playing for Jamaica. Porter also tried to lure Ravel Morrison to represent the Reggae Boyz back in 2015.
@morrisonravel Jamaica is calling
— Devon Porter (@DevonAPorter) September 22, 2015
There is very little danger of Mason Greenwood opting to play for Jamaica, given the potential he has and the heights he is expected to reach. The Manchester United forward has represented England at youth level and will almost certainly be picked for England next month after an impressive run of league form post-restart.
Holgate and Maitland-Niles are less likely to play regularly for England, with plenty of competition in midfield, if slightly less in defence.
Jamaica were able to convince Leon Bailey to represent their national team, after some resistance due to the level of facilities in Jamaica. There were also rumours that he could represent England through his grandparents, who are British citizens, but neither were born in England.
Adding players with the quality of Phillips and Maitland-Niles could give the Caribbean island a strong chance of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
