A Premier League player, who has certainly been thriving during the 2020/21 season, switches allegiance from England to Jamaica.
West Ham forward Michail Antonio is reportedly set to ditch international allegiance England so that he can play for the Caribbean island nation in a bid to play in the 2022 World Cup.
Antonio has previously turned down the chance to represent Jamaica in 2016 and was later called up to England squads by Sam Allardyce as well as Gareth Southgate, however he didn’t make his debut.
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According to The Telegraph, Antonio will accept Jamaica’s fresh approach with their Football Federation hoping he will be available for the CONCACAF qualifiers in September against Mexico and Costa Rica.
The 30-year-old’s form for the Hammers has seen them climb into the Champions League places of the Premier League table, despite missing the start of the campaign through injury.
England have plenty of options up front with the likes of Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Ings part of the last squad selected by Southgate.
Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling can also be played through the middle, so you can see why Antonio isn’t a contender to break through.
Antonio revealed he rejected several approaches from Jamaica in 2016 because of his dream to play for England.
Speaking after he was called up to the squad by Allardyce, he said: ‘I turned down an approach from Jamaica in March and for this to happen so quickly, I’m buzzing. I just want to keep my feet on the floor.
‘In my first season in the Premier League, even though I had good stats, the England manager would have had to take a risk on me.
‘It looks like the gaffer now believes that I’ve done enough to be in there, so hopefully I can prove him right.’
He was then called up by Gareth Southgate in 2017 though he was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
The current Jamaica squad is starting to impress many, as it includes former West Ham and Manchester United player Ravel Morrison, who previously played for England youth sides. Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid and Michael Hector are also regulars.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey is also in the first team, giving a big boost to the Jamaican outfit.
The ‘Reggae Boyz’ last qualified for the World Cup in 1998, with current boss Theodore Whitmore scoring the two goals in their famous victory over Japan.
ANTONIO’S CAREER:
Youth career
2002–2008 – Tooting & Mitcham United
Senior career
2008 – Tooting & Mitcham United – 4 games (4 goals)
2008–2012 – Reading – 28 games (1 goal)
2009 → Tooting & Mitcham United (loan) – 5 games (3 goals)
2009 → Cheltenham Town (loan) – 9 games (0 goals)
2009–2010 → Southampton (loan) – 28 games (3 goals)
2011 → Colchester United (loan) – 15 games (4 goals)
2012 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) – 14 games (5 goals)
2012–2014 – Sheffield Wednesday – 64 games (12 goals)
2014–2015 – Nottingham Forest – 50 games (16 goals)
2015– West Ham United – 149 games (42 goals)
Fans reacted as the Premier League player switches allegiance from England to Jamaica…
@Evertoningen: If this is true attitude stinks
@FootyAccums: He’s 30 and there’s about 6/5 strikers ahead of him in the England set up. Good luck to him.
@layoftheday2012: Surprised Declan “Jollof” Rice hasn’t switched to the Reggae boys either…
@Dango1867: Surprised he waited so long tbh.
@owenward27: Can’t blame him, I’m sure Jamaica would welcome a player of his level to their team. Makes their chances of qualifying even better
@dhampson1990: Can’t blame the lad. I’d give him a chance up top for England, completely different option than what we have.
@mwesmiq: The Reggae Boyz team is shaping up. Leon Bailey, Bobby Reid, Ravel Morrison and soon Michail Antonio.
@MLS_Buzz: Leon Bailey and Michail Antonio are gonna be a problem in CONCACAF. Add this to Curaçao continuing to add to their ranks and Canada having their come up, things are going to get more interesting.
@ADAMArchitectUK: @westham_hubif this happens you know i’m getting the Jamaica Umbro shirt with @Michailantonio on the back!
@WestHamRambles: That’s not going to do his hamstrings any good!
@23HPork: Be a good decision that will.
@Sammy_dodgerx: Sad that. He’s deserved an opportunity for England. But I hope it works out for him, and he gets to play at the World Cup
@MikezAFC_: See you man at World Cup 2022 next year
@WHUFC_joseph: I get that we’re upset because of his hamstrings, but I’m still happy. If Michail ended his career without playing international football it’d be pretty upsetting
@LiamHammer7: Rather if he didn’t, with his hamstrings he could do without the extra workload of international games
@_GXWH: That Antonio and Leon Bailey link up though
@HighPricetag_: Should be in the England team
@TBlissett07: Jamaica is getting a couple of ballers recently
@nickjohns47: Those hammy’s won’t stand up to international football as well
@B415ter: It’s our loss. He should have been in the England squad years ago.
@WHUOmar: only changing so he can bring Bailey to west ham
@TalkinWestHam: No no no he’s gonna get injured
@Kappanitreal: Antonio linking up with Rav letsss gooo
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