FOR most of his adult life, Nathan Smith has dreamt of playing international football. In fact, it’s an item most, if not all, professional players want to add to their resumes.

But opportunities don’t come easily, especially if you are born and raised in England and split between loyalties.

Though he’s English by birth, Smith was never confused as to where his heart was. He always felt Jamaican, being exposed to the culture and customs all his life growing up in London.

And Smith, who is eligible to play for the Reggae Boyz through his parents, who came up to England from the parish of Hanover, may be on the verge of realising his dreams of donning the black, green and gold of Jamaica.

With coach Theodore Whitmore’s expanded search for new talent ahead of next year’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, England-born players who have established ancestral links to Jamaica will have their day to show what they have to offer the national football programme.

Whitmore, a former Jamaica star, will begin that search in a friendly international match against Central American outfit Honduras on October 11 at high altitude Tegucigalpa. Maybe then the coach will be able to find players with the “desire, guts and commitment” he’s looking to fortify the team’s ranks.

The France World Cup hero has invited at least four England-born-and-bred professionals for the engagement and Smith, who plays League One football for Chesterfield, is counted among them.

The 24-year-old left-sided player is determined to grab the opportunity with both hands.

“Firstly I will be bringing hard work, dedication and hunger and I don’t want this chance to slip and I’m going all out for this country,” Smith said from Chesterfield, the market Derbyshire town.

So strong was his desire to represent Jamaica, Smith had gone ahead at the urging of his agent and secured a Jamaican passport — a first step in making himself eligible for selection.

“As I have said, this is a thing that I was ready to do and that’s representing the country, and my agent over here told me he could help me get to that stage, so I told him ‘let’s go’,” said the six-foot-one-inch defender.

‘Smithy’, as he’s affectionately called by his clubmates, said his passion to play for Jamaica was also fanned by Chesterfield teammate, Simon Ford, who had a brief stint with the Boyz back in 2008 when the Brazilian Rene Simoes was in charge.

“Yeah, he (Ford) was the one who told me that he played already and he told me to go for it,” Smith noted.

Smith, who started his professional career as a teenager at Enfield, told the Sunday Observer that he admires the natural ability of the players bred on the island and he’s anxious to be a part of that.

“All I do know is that a lot of Jamaicans have come here (England) and do their thing and that’s obviously why I want to be a part of it (Jamaican football set-up),” said the former Yeovil

Town man.

Smith, who also “loves to attack” down his favourite left side, says as a budding player he had two main goals: To play in the English Premiership and to play international football.

“It has always been a goal of mine to get to the Premiership and to play for my country, which ever comes first I am happy to take,” he said.

Having heard the news that he’s being considered for the Jamaica team for next month’s friendly match, Smith’s family is over the moon with joy.

“My family supports me 100 per cent. Mom’s happy, dad’s happy and auntie’s happy,” said a delighted Smith by telephone on Wednesday.

The Reggae Boyz hopeful said he’s soon in tune with the culture of Jamaica that he cannot have enough “ackee and saltfish and jerk chicken”. “Plus I love the music and I can do the dances. I just want to play for my country,” Smith chirped.

On the club scene, life has not been perfect as Chesterfield have not had the best start to the season of the 24-team as they sit in a modest 14th spot — a long way down from leaders Charlton Athletic, who they were due to play yesterday.

“We have not started the season too well, but for me, personally, I have been trying to dig in and work with the team and I think I’ve been getting better and I’ve been coming into my own,” Smith said.