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Michail Antonio Set To Switch National Allegiance To Jamaica

Michail Antonio Set To Switch National Allegiance To Jamaica

The Hammers' striker is set to join the likes of Ravel Morrison, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Leon Bailey for the Reggae Boyz.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Michail Antonio is set to switch his national team allegiance from England to Jamaica, as he attempts to play in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The West Ham striker has previously been in England squads, for both Sam Allardyce and Gareth Southgate, but has never actually played a match.

He was in fact the only uncapped player to be called up by Allardyce for his one and only game in charge of the national team, back when he was playing as either a right back or midfielder for the Hammers, but was an unused substitute.

Antonio has since switched to a striker for his club side, to great affect, but has remained out of the England reckoning since March 2017, when he backed out of a Southgate squad with an injury.

According to the Telegraph, the 30-year-old is set to accept a call up from Jamaica. They play friendlies during next month's international break but the paper says the World Cup qualifiers in September are more likely.

The Reggae Boyz attempted to call Antonio up to their squad in 2016 but he chose to concentrate on getting called up for England.

Antonio has been in excellent form. Image: PA Images
Antonio has been in excellent form. Image: PA Images

His six goals in 14 starts in the Premier League this season, following on from the end of last season where he scored eight in seven appearances, have helped David Moyes side into the top four.

However with Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Danny Ings and Tammy Abraham having recently been in squads, and Patrick Bamford and Ollie Watkins also likely ahead of him, it's doubtful Antonio would get a call up for England any time soon.

Antonio will likely be in the squad when the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers start against Mexico and Costa Rica later in the year.

He will join the likes of Ravel Morrison, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Leon Bailey in Theodore Whitmore's squad, as they attempt to qualify for just the second time.

Bayer Leverkusen's Leon Bailey will soon be Antonio's teammate. Image: PA Images
Bayer Leverkusen's Leon Bailey will soon be Antonio's teammate. Image: PA Images

They made their debut at the competition in 1998 and Whitmore scored both their goals as they won their final group game, beating Japan 2-1.

It is the second forward this week that the Three Lions have 'lost,' with Bayern Munich youngster Jamal Musiala confirming he was going to pick the German national team.

The teenager played at all youth levels for England but revealed that he felt it was 'right' to play for the country of his birth instead.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Michail Antonio, Football, Jamaica, Premier League, West Ham United, Gareth Southgate, World Cup