KINGSTON, Jamaica — Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren insists Marseille FC player Mason Greenwood wants to be part of the squad and hopes the former Manchester United player will join the squad by March next year.

McClaren addressed the media at Saturday’s press conference where he announced the 23-man squad for the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final match against the USA, urging patience in the process of landing the prolific goalscorer.

“I’ve heard a lot of publicity about and always around Mason Greenwood,” he said, “I’m in constant contact with Mason, the message is always the same, ‘when the time is right.’

Recent reports in England suggest that the 23-year-old, who made a senior appearance for England as a substitute against Iceland, is hoping to speak to newly appointed England manager Thomas Tuchel to assess any potential to play for the three lei. ‘

READING: Mason Greenwood to speak to England boss before making Reggae Boyz switch – reports

Greenwood, who is eligible to switch allegiance to the Caribbean island through his Jamaican-born father, was left out of several England squads following his highly publicized arrest on assault charges in January 2022. All charges were dropped a year later due to “the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that has come to light.”

McClaren, who is familiar with Greenwood from their time together at Manchester United, said: “You have to think he’s had a traumatic time in the last two years of his contract and he’s been out on loan. He’s been here, he’s been there – the publicity and I think he just wants to settle down in Marseille and enjoy his football, which he does, and he wants to join the Reggae Boyz. I know every time I talk to him, I have no reason to doubt that, and the process continues.”

After Greenwood missed out on an earlier opportunity to join the Jamaican squad, McClaren said: “I didn’t expect it to be, once you miss the first camp, any of these camps, but hopefully by March we’ll have made progress. on everything. As I said, our whole project and process is about qualifying for the World Cup and that’s still, I know, on the horizon, but it’s something we’re thinking about now and planning for the long term. So, Mason, we’re keeping an eye on you and we’ll keep you updated on that.”

-Paul A Reid