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Former Manchester United attacker Mason Greenwood wants to play for Jamaica, according to former United coach and current Reggae Boyz manager Steve McClaren.
The 63 year old took the Jamaican national team job in the summer and soon after it was reported that Greenwood would consider switching allegiance to the Caribbean side through his father.
Like McClaren, Greenwood also left United permanently in the summer as he completed a transfer to Olympique de Marseille.
The 23 year old has made a fine start to life in France as he has scored eight goals in 11 Ligue 1 matches to date but was hooked off at half-time for a poor showing at the end of October.
It has been recently reported that Greenwood is keen to add to his one England cap so far and play under incoming England manager Thomas Tuchel.
However McClaren has provided a big update on the situation and has seemingly confirmed that a switch in international allegiance is already in motion.
Goal carried McClaren’s comments to the media at the weekend where he stated, “I’ve heard a lot of publicity about and always around Mason Greenwood. I am constantly in touch with Mason, the message is always the same, ‘when the time is right’.”
The former United coach elaborated on the Bradford native’s situation that due to the turmoil of the last couple of years, he wants to get settled in France before he makes his international move permanent.
“You’ve got to think he’s had a traumatic time the last two years in his contract, and he’s been on loan. He’s been here, he’s been there – the publicity, and I think he just wants to settle in at Marseille and enjoy his football, which he’s doing, and he wants to join the Reggae Boyz. I know that, every time I speak to him, I’ve no reason to doubt that, and the process goes on.”
The former United coach gave even more detail as he claimed that he is hopeful that Greenwood could join up with his side for the March international break.
“I’m hoping by March time we will have made progress on everything. As I said, our whole project and process is about World Cup qualification, and that’s still, I know, on the horizon, but it’s still something that we’re thinking about now and planning for in the long term. So Mason, we keep an eye on and keep you posted on that.”
Greenwood would certainly be a massive addition to the Jamaican national team and would provide them with a quality of player they do not possess at the moment and he could be a huge difference maker for them in their quest to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.
Feature image Miguel Medina via Getty Images