JAMAICA are lining up a move to convince Mason Greenwood to switch nationalities, reports say.
The Caribbean nation are looking to make a big push for the World Cup next year and have recently persuaded West Ham forward Michail Antonio to play in their qualifiers.
Ravel Morrison, Andre Gray and Kemar Roofe are also believed to be in their plans for a squad which already includes Adrian Mariappa, Leon Bailey, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Liam Moore.
According to a senior source in the Jamaica Football Federation, as reported by the Telegraph, they would ‘welcome’ Greenwood in the squad.
Greenwood, 19, pulled out of England’s squad for the delayed European Championships for treatment on an ‘underlying injury’.
He also missed out on the Under-21 Euros in March due to the problem, with Aidy Boothroyd’s side finishing bottom of their group.
Greenwood has not played for England since making his senior debut against Iceland in September – but the appearance was marred in controversy.
The teenager, alongside City’s Phil Foden, was sent home for breaking Covid-19 safety rules by inviting two female guests to the team hotel.
Foden, 21, has since made seven more caps, with two goals, and started in two of England’s three Euros games.
Despite Greenwood not featuring for Gareth Southgate since the coronavirus breach, he was handed a boost by making the provisional Euros squad before withdrawing.
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But the forward qualifies for Jamaica through his parents and is able to switch allegiances despite featuring in a Uefa Nations League game.
Players can change if they are under 21 and have featured in no more than three competitive games.
Greenwood ended the season with 12 goals in 52 appearances but after the arrival of veteran striker Edison Cavani, 34, he was reduced to a role on the right wing.
Southgate hailed the versatile attacker when he explained the inclusion in his initial summer squad selection.
He said: “In terms of the past, that’s absolutely the past. I spoke with Mason before we selected him for the Under-21s in March to make that clear.
“I hope his inclusion on this provisional list shows we’re happy to select him, when young people make mistakes we move on from it, it was the same with Phil.
“He’s an absolutely outstanding finisher, there’s no question of that.
“He’s another very young player, his all-round game is still coming together but he’s clearly got an exceptional talent for finishing and that’s why we picked him in September.”