REGGAE Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren says he has been in constant dialogue with English-born striker Mason Greenwood and his family, adding that he is eager for the forward to represent the Reggae Boyz in their World Cup Qualifiers later this year.

Greenwood, 23, who is eligible to switch allegiance to Jamaica through his Jamaican-born father, made one senior appearance for England as a substitute against Iceland.

McClaren, who is familiar with Greenwood from their time together at Manchester United, said Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is still awaiting one final document to be signed by Greenwood’s family before he can officially become eligible to play for the Reggae Boyz.

“We are in touch all the time with Mason, making sure that he knows and his family knows that we want him here at Jamaica in the campaign for the World Cup,” McClaren said.

“We are still on one document to be signed and my indications are that Mason wants to play for Jamaica. We respect the family’s decision at the present moment; it is in their hands and that is what we are waiting for,” he added.

Greenwood, who plies his trade for Marseille in Ligue 1 in France, has been in excellent form this season, scoring 13 goals in 20 appearances. The forward, who has also registered three assists, is currently second in the Ligue 1 scoring chart behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé.

Meanwhile, McClaren also disclosed that English-born striker Michail Antonio, who suffered a lower-limb fracture in a crash on December 7 in England, could return to the Reggae Boyz squad this summer.

“It has been a tragedy what has happened over the Christmas period with Michail Antonio but we have been in touch with him all the time and he is recovering,” he said.

“He said that he may not be available for the March one but he says that he may be available in the summer, so we are hoping on that one,” McClaren noted.

Antonio has scored five goals in 21 appearances for the Reggae Boyz since making his debut for the country in 2021. He is also West Ham’s all-time leading Premier League scorer, with 68 goals in 268 appearances.

McClaren also highlighted the importance of the number nine position and expressed hope of finding a locally based player who can fill the role when Jamaica takes on Trinidad and Tobago in a two-match friendly international series starting on Thursday at Montego Bay Sports Complex. The second match will be played at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday.

“The number nine position is vitally important, and if we can get one top-quality number nine who can score goals from this group, I would be absolutely delighted — and that is what we are looking for,” he said.