Michail Antonio is finally an international footballer following his long-awaited debut for Jamaica over the weekend.
The Reggae Boyz were on the end of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Panama with Antonio starting and lasting 70 minutes before being substituted. The striker was making his first international appearance for Jamaica - the country of his parents' birth - having previously been called up to the England squad in 2016 without being capped.
Having had to be patient for his chance at international football, Hammers coach Stuart Pearce is confident the striker will have his eyes set on representing his country at the World Cup.
"He'll be looking and saying 'Can I qualify for the World Cup and play at the World Cup?'" Pearce told talkSPORT.
Pearce put Antonio's international call-up and fine Hammers form down to producing the goods week in and week out.
"He’s shown a real level of consistency, over the last couple of years I’ve got to say," Pearce added.
"I signed him at Nottingham Forest as a winger, and it was at that level of consistency you are always striving for.
"His level of professionalism, his level of consistency have gone through the roof working under David [Moyes] and David’s really getting the best out of him.
"And I think from a Mich's point of view, he’s really enjoying his football.
"Whether his injuries now and then has stopped him from getting a level of consistency from the managers, who knows."
Despite receiving two call-ups for the England squad, the closest Antonio came to a Three Lions cap was a spot on the substitutes bench in 2016. Originally selected as a winger, the Hammer was once again included in the England set-up in 2017 but due to injury, he had to withdraw from Gareth Southgate's squad.
Pearce believes England's loss is Jamaica's gain and says Antonio's decision is a personal one.
"We [England] have had certain players slip through the net or go and choose other nations, that is just the nature of it and that is Mich's choice on it," Pearce said.
Hammers manager David Moyes has previously said there are concerns about the extra travel involved with Antonio playing for Jamaica but he would support his player's personal choice to represent the Reggae Boyz.
