EVERTON’S RISING star 23-year-old defender Mason Holgate could become the latest high-profile player to don the Jamaican jersey.

Holgate has impressed as Everton, under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, have moved up the Premier League table.

When questioned about the possibility of playing for the Reggae Boyz, the defender told the Voice of Sport: “‘It is something I have not thought about too much, I want to focus on playing for Everton.

“I feel like those type of things (international football) takes care of themselves. I have not heard anything from Jamaica so far, so I just have to keep playing and see what happens.”

Holgate did state that the thought of playing for Jamaica is one that he would consider. He added: “Yeah, it is always something you have to consider. I will have to sit down and look at the options and think about it properly’.

CURRENT

Holgate is having the season of his career. After being on loan at West Bromwich Albion in the Championship last season, where he played under manager and ex-Reggae Boy Darren Moore,  he returned to Everton for the current Premier League campaign where he has now cemented himself into the starting XI which has seen him become the subject of plenty of praise.

Holgate’s breakthrough season has seen him display calmness, maturity and composure on the ball and raised questions marks over his club future with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola rumoured to be keen on signing the versatile player.

In a bid to retain Holgate’s services, Everton tied him to a new five-year contract earlier this week. When asked about the recent trasnfer rumours, Ancelotti said: “I think it is a rumour. If it is not a rumour, I can say that Mason is an important part for the future of Everton and there is no possibility that he can go.”