Michail Antonio 'snubs England to pledge his international future to Jamaica'

West Ham star Michail Antonio has snubbed England and officially pledged his international future to Jamaica, according to reports.

As revealed by Sportsmail earlier this month, the Reggae Boyz were plotting an audacious move to recruit up to 15 English stars ahead of next year's World Cup in Qatar.

Joining Antonio among the list were Demarai Gray, Max Aarons and Liam Moore, and it now appears that the West Ham man is the first to confirm his place in the Jamaica squad.

Sky Sports report that Antonio has now definitely pledged his allegiance to the Caribbean island - where his parents were born - in a bid to play more international football having missed out regularly on England squads of late.

His decision to switch is perhaps strange given injuries to the likes of Tammy Abraham, Callum Wilson and Danny Ings, meaning his chances of receiving a call from Gareth Southgate had increased significantly.

But despite his chance of an England call-up, it appears Antonio is eyeing his long-term international future and the World Cup in 2022.

Jamaica are also hopeful of persuading Isaac Hayden, Andre Gray, Ethan Pinnock Mason Holgate, Kemar Roofe, Rolando Aarons, Curtis Tilt, Jamal Lowe, Amari'i Bell and Kasey Palmer to represent them.

Reading defender Moore has already got his Jamaican passport while JFF President Michael Ricketts confirmed that many of the players they want to call-up are in the process of acquiring one.

'I see Andre Gray, Demarai Gray, Isaac Hayden, who actually approached the JFF about representing us, 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,' Ricketts confirmed this week.

'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.'

Despite Ricketts' statement, Sportsmail has been told by the JFF that Southampton forward Redmond has not been contacted about playing for them.