Now, with Jamaica looking to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America, TBR understands that Lewis Baker will enhance McClaren’s ranks having agreed to switch his international allegiance.
Baker, now at Stoke City aged 29, earned 17 caps for England at Under-21 level in his Chelsea days. Paperwork is being finalised for the well-travelled playmaker to represent Jamaica on the senior international stage.
This will be a major success for McClaren.
The former England boss – who took over at the Reggae Boyz after leaving Man United’s coaching staff over the summer – has been looking to enhance his squad with a number of English-based, English-born talents.
Everton man and West Brom loanee Mason Holgate is also part of October’s squad.
“We’ve been chasing him since before I came in,” McClaren tells a press conference of Holgate. “I think, through the intervention of the President especially, trying to push through players with heritage wanting passports, I think we’re finally very, very close to getting a passport for him.
“He just needs clearance from FIFA. He might not qualify for the first game [of the October break]. But we think, by the second game, he will definitely be available.
“So I decided to bring him in and integrate him quickly.”
Newcastle United’s Isaac Hayden could feature at 2026 World Cup
The Essex-born Isaac Hayden is expected to follow Baker and Holgate into the Jamaica picture sooner rather than later.
While still still technically a Magpies player, Hayden is not part of Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe’s plans. After spending last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers, Hayden was unable to secure himself a permanent transfer before the August 30th deadline.
As such, he is stuck playing with Newcastle’s reserves for the time being.
Speaking to reporters during a stint in Belgium with Standard Liege, Hayden indicated that he had reservations about signing up to Jamaica duty. With his 30th birthday approaching and that England ‘dream’ more fanciful than ever, Hayden could be forgiven for having a change of heart.
“I don’t see myself as an opportunist, getting selected for Jamaica,” he said at the time. “I don’t want to take the place of someone who has played a lot of matches, [and to be] able to play at a World Cup in his place.
“It [will] always be a dream to play for England.”
Jamaica have two wins from two in their World Cup qualifying campaign so far.
McClaren’s team beat the Dominican Republic 1-0 before edging Dominica 3-2 with Spartak Moscow forward Shamar Nicholson scoring three times across the two games.
It is understood, meanwhile, that one of Jamaica’s local-based talents – defender Richard King – is on the radars of West Ham, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
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Publish date : 2024-10-08 05:17:00
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