England-born players could represent Reggae Boyz despite English FA interest

Despite growing interest from England manager Gareth Southgate to cap players with Jamaican heritage, Jamaican agent Devon Porter has maintained that a number of them remain interested to represent the Reggae Boyz.

The England manager has requested a meeting with four players born to Jamaican parents including Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips for Friday afternoon. 

According to the Yorkshire evening post, Kalvin Phillips who was born to a Jamaican father, has received contact from the English FA as they try to cap tie the 24 year old in a competitive fixture for the Three Lions in the UEFA Nations League in September.

Porter recently approached Phillips to enquire whether he would be interested in playing for Jamaica.

Porter who has been recommending players to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) since 1996, confirmed with Radio Jamaica Sports on Wednesday that he has been tracking Phillips for the past two years.

Southgate is also set to meet with the likes of Everton's Mason Holgate, Manchester United's Mason Greenwood and Arsenal's  Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who were all born to Jamaican parents, to ply their trade for England.

Porter says he has also had dialogue with Holgate's representatives. Porter has also highlighted another player who has expressed a desire to play for Jamaica, and that's Manchester United's 19 year old wingback Ethan Laird.

There are currently 124 players in the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two who were born in England to Jamaican parents or have grandparents who are Jamaican.

The 2022 World Cup qualifiers for the CONCACAF region is slated to kick off in October. The Reggae Boyz will commence action in round three in June next year.