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Newcastle and Stoke men eye World Cup chance as they change international allegiance

Stoke City midfielder Lewis Baker is ready to commit his international future to Jamaica with Steve McClaren’s side also hoping to convince Newcastle United misfit Isaac Hayden to join the Reggae Boyz ranks.

There is already a number of familiar faces in the Jamaica squad, with a handful of English-born talents headlining Steve McClaren’s selection.

Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Bobby Decordva-Reid, Ethan Pinnock, Kasey Palmer and Sheffield Wednesday’s former Manchester United prospect Di’Shon Bernard are among those who represent the Reggae Boyz on thಞe international stage these days.

TBR can confirm that the Jamaica bosses are continuing with talks over both Mason Greenwood and Reiss Nelson too.

Greenwood has enjoyed a terrific start to the season ಞwith Marseille. Interim England boss Lee Carsley has confirmed, however, that the forward is not under 𓃲consideration to add to his one and only Three Lions cap.

Nelson, meanwhile, is impressing at Fulham.

Nelson joined Fulham on lo꧟an 🦹from London neighbours Arsenal on deadline day. Cottagers team-mate Emile Smith🐬 Rowe was another Jamaica had hoped to tie down at one point, with Fulham’s record signing eligible through his paternal grandfather.

Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images

Jamaica boss Steve McClaren hopes to register Stoke City’s Lewis Baker

Now, with Jamaica looking to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America, TBR understands that Lewis Baker will enhance McClaren🌳’s ranks having agreed to switch his international allegiance.

Baker, now at Stoke City aged 29,ꦚ earned 17 caps for England at Under-21 level in his Chelsea days. Paperwork is being finalised for the well-travelled playmaker to represent Jamaica o🌠n the senior international stage.

This will be a major success for McClaren.

The former England boss – who took over at the Reggae Boyz after leaving Man United’s coaching staff over the summer – has been looking to enhance his squad with a number of English-based, ꦕEnglish-born talents.

Everton man and West Brom loanee Mason Holgate is also part of October’s squad.

“We’ve been chasing him since before I came in,” McClaren tells a press conference of Holgate. “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 pass⛄port for him.

“He just needs clearance from FIFA. He might not qualify for the first game [of the October break]. But we think, by the second game, he will definitely be aജvailable.

“So I deci♉ded to bring him in and in꧙tegrate him quickly.”

Newcastle United’s Isaac Hayden could feature at 2026 World Cup

The Essex-born Isaac Hayden is expected to follow Baker 🐎and Holgate into the Jamaica picture sooner rather than later.

While still still technically a Magpies player, Hayden is not part of Newcastle United boss Eddi𒉰eౠ Howe’s plans. After spendi🍨ng last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers, Hayden wasℱ unable to secure himself a permanent transfer before the August 30th deadline.

As such, he is stuck playing with Newc🧸astle’s reserves for the time being.

Speaking to reporters during a stint in Belgium with Standard Liege, Hayden indicated that he had reservations about signing up to Jamaica duty. With his 30th birthday approaching and that England ꦐ‘dream’ more fanciful than ever, Hayden could be forgiven for having a change of heart.

“I don’t see myself as an opportunist, getting selected for Jamaica,” he said at the time. “I don’t want to take the place of someone who has played a lotꦰ of matches, [and to be] able to play at a World Cup in his place.

“It [will] always beﷺ a dream to play for England.”

Jamaica have two wins from two in their World Cup qualifying ♔campaign so far.

McClaren’s team beat the Dominican Republic 1-0 🌠before edging Dominica 3-2 with Spartak Moscow forward Shamar Nicholson scoring three times across the two games.

It is understood, meanwhile, that one of Jamaica’s local-based talents – 𓆏– is on the radars of West H𝕴am, Newcastle and Aston Villa.