Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden has expressed his desire to play international football for Jamaica.
That is according to the president of the Jamaican Football Federation, Michael Ricketts, who claims the 25-year-old has personally reached out to them to get the process going.
Hayden, who has been a stalwart for Newcastle since joining the club from Arsenal in 2016, has been capped three times by England at under-21 level but has never represented the senior Three Lions' side.
Jamaica caused shockwaves in English football earlier this week as it was revealed West Ham forward Michail Antonio was ready to pledge his allegiance to the Reggae Boyz.
Ricketts has now confirmed they have their eye on a number of other English players with Jamaican heritage ahead of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar beginning in September this year.
And Hayden, who is eligible to play for Jamaica through his mother, is said to have expressed his interest in being called up to Theodore Whitmore's side.
“I see Andre Gray, I see Demarai Gray and I see Isaac Hayden, who he, himself, called the JFF to express his desire. He personally called," Ricketts revealed.
"Mason Holgate, Liam Moore, who already has his Jamaican passport, Nathan Redmond, Kemar Roofe and Ivan Toney. All of these we are in the process of acquiring their Jamaican passports.
“The process is becoming a little tedious because of the pandemic but the process is ongoing and we are hopeful we will get the passports for these gentlemen in reasonable time.
“We have been having discussions. I just spoke with the Permanent Secretary for Sport and he has agreed to try and help us to facilitate and to expedite the process.”
