DESPITE much-sought-after forward Mason Greenwood refusing to commit to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, head coach Steve McClaren says the player remains firmly in his plans as the national senior men’s team looks to qualify for next summer’s FIFA World Cup.

On Friday, McClaren named his 26-man squad for the opening games in the final round of Concacaf World Cup Qualiyfing against Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago, but 23-year-old Greenwood was surprisingly missing though it had been felt that his arrival was imminent.

After being recruited by the Jamaica Football Federation for well over a year, the English-born forward received his Jamaican passport earlier this month and looked set to make his debut.

However, McClaren says Greenwood is currently hesitant to commit to the national senior men’s team.

“We expected him to be coming to this camp but on a conversation with his family, he’s not going to commit at this time to anybody so he’s taking his time over that,” he said.

As reported by the Jamaica Observer this month, Greenwood needs to receive an international transfer certificate clearance from the English Football Association (FA), after representing England in a Nations League match against Iceland in September 2020.

But the former Manchester United player would need to sign a letter confirming that his change of allegiance is final and cannot be undone, which would effectively exclude him from future England squads. It’s understood that this requirement has historically posed a challenge for United Kingdom-born players who have previously been recruited by Jamaica.

Greenwood is still eligible to represent England, though he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for their World Cup Qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia beginning next week.

McClaren, however, says he’s not giving up the Greenwood chase and is optimistic he’ll make himself available for the October window.

“We probably have to be more patient but we will keep in contact, we’ll keep pursuing him, because I know from my conversations with Mason, I get that he loves Jamaica, he respects Jamaica, but he wants to concentrate on club football and not commit to an international team at the present moment. We have to respect that, however much we’ve worked hard to get him here for these camps,” he said.

MCCLAREN…. he’s not going to commit at this time to anybody so he’s taking his time over that we expected him to be coming to this camp but on a conversation with his family, he’s not going to commit at this time to anybody so he’s taking his time over that. Photo: Karl Mclarty

Greenwood’s 21 goals and six assists for Marsielle in Ligue 1 last season would have been welcomed for a Reggae Boyz squad who have struggled offensively in recent times but McClaren isn’t overly phased by his absence.

“It’s a disappointment for everybody because he would have been a big asset and he would have come here and enjoyed his football. But look, as soon as that decision was made and he couldn’t commit, you move on. You don’t harp on it and don’t go, ‘What if this’ or ‘What if that’ — you move on and control what you can control. We moved on very quickly from that and we’ve picked a squad, and we’re looking for the next two weeks [to be] focusing entirely on this squad.”

Brentford defender Rico Henry, Rangers right back Max Aarons, Stoke City midfielder Lewis Baker, and Southampton striker Cameron Archer are the other English-born players who won’t be available for this window.

McClaren, however, has been boosted by the arrival of Sheffield Wednesday’s Bailey Cadamarteri, who had previously rejected Jamaica for England’s under-19 team. Defenders Ian Fray of Inter Miami and Kyle Duncan of New York Red Bulls also get their first call-up.

However, captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake, forward Leon Bailey, midfielder Bobby Reid, and defender Joel Latibeaudiere all miss out due to injury.

Although missing three key players, McClaren is confident members of the squad can fill the void.

“Latibeaudiere is a leader, Andre is a leader, Leon Bailey, in his own way through what he does, is an influence and a leader so we’ll miss them, and we do expect the others to step up,” he said.

“It’s one important reason why when Mikel and I spoke that he said, ‘I could maybe help in the dressing room, I could help on the training field, and if you think so, I can help on the field.’ So that’s one of the reasons we’ve done that. Leadership is important. We have plenty of it in the dressing room — Amari’I Bell who did really well in the Unity Cup as a captain; Ethan Pinnock, who can do that role also; and we’ve got other experienced players, so people need to step up now for the next six games.”

The Boyz are set to travel to Bermuda for their encounter on Friday before hosting Trinidad at the National Stadium on September 9.

Only the group winner, which also consists of Curacao, will automatically advance to next year’s World Cup.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Shaquan Davis, Jahmali Waite, Tafari Chambers

Defenders: Damion Lowe, Richard King, Ethan Pinnock, Amari’i Bell, Kyle Duncan, Dexter Lembikisa, Greg Leigh, Mason Holgate

Midfielders: Isaac Hayden, Ian Fray, Jon Russell, Kasey Palmer, Karoy Anderson, Kevon Lambert, Jahshaun Anglin

Forwards: Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Kaheim Dixon, Renaldo Cephas, Warner Brown, Tyreece Campbell, Bailey Cadamarteri, Shamar Nicholson

Former Manchester United player Mason Greenwood pictured in an official Jamaica kit during a private training session in August 2023.

Head Coach Steve McClaren (left) and members of the Reggae Boyz squad during a training drill at the National Stadium on June 9, 2025, ahead of their match against Guatemala in the second round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying. Photo: Naphtali Junior

Ian Fray