Former England Under-21 defender Mason Holgate has been called up to the Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz squad for the two CONCACAF Nations League matches against Nicaragua and Honduras.

The 27-year-old Holgate, has been on the Jamaica Football Federation’s radar for a number of years and qualified to represent Jamaica through his grandparents.

Holgate, who plays for West Bromwich Albion, which sits fourth in England’s second-tier Championship table, can also play as a holding midfielder. He had also represented Everton and has eight caps for the England Under-20s and six caps for the Under-21s.

Jamaica are scheduled to travel to Nicaragua on October 10 before hosting Honduras four days later on October 14 inside the National Stadium. Jamaica currently sit atop Group A with four points from two games and the Nations League serves as a qualifier for the Gold Cup.

At the press conference Friday morning, Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren said Jamaica had been chasing Holgate for a while.

“We’ve been chasing him since before I came in. 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,” said McClaren.

Holgate is yet to receive his Jamaican passport, but McClaren believes he will get it in time for at least the second game. “He might not qualify for the first game, but we think by the second game he will definitely be available, so I decided to bring him in and integrate him quickly,” he explained.

Jamaica will be without the injured Leon Bailey and striker Shamar Nicholson who opted to miss these games as he works on his fitness. “I wanted him, but it was his decision and he wanted to get back to the Shamar that we know,” McClaren pointed out.

McClaren noted that he had a problem at right back with injuries and has called up New York City FC right back Tayvon Gray and Seattle Sounders defender Jon Bell. “We had a look at Tayvon Gray, I like this boy, he is strong, a good defender, gets forward, I saw him score a goal against Red Bulls. He has done very well and I had no hesitation in bringing him in,” said McClaren. “Jon [Bell] is experienced, he has been in the squad before and I followed him at Seattle, so he comes in.”

Former Kingston College striker Romario Williams, is now at Indy Eleven, and former Jamaica College star Tyreek MaGee is with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship are also drafted for the squad.

“I always looked for a number 10, creative player out of the box, somebody who can change games and I asked Merron (assistant coach) and he recommended Tyreek and I said yea we will give him a chance that’s what I aim to do. I am learning so much about everything,” said McClaren. “I am learning a lot about different players and Tyreek is somebody I can’t wait to work with.”

According to McClaren, Gordon is an excellent recruiter and when they talked about the number nine Romario was mentioned.

“Haven’t seen much of this boy and I am going to look forward to seeing him in training. But from what I have heard he has been in the squad before, he got experience and the players know him. He is a great addition to the squad and he will play minutes because in that area we are pretty short,” he explained.

The full squad is as follows:

• Goalkeepers: Andre Blake, Shaquan Davis, Jahmali Waite.
• Defenders: Dexter Lembikisa, Di’Shon Bernard, Greg Leigh, Damion Lowe, Jon Bell, Richard King, Tayvon Gray, Ethan Pinnock, Mason Holgate.
• Midfielders: Kasey Palmer, Karoy Anderson, Bobby Reid, Joel Latibeaudiere, Tyreek Magee.
• Forwards: Renaldo Cephas, Norman Campbell, Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Kaheim Dixon and Romario Williams.