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• Mason Holgate delighted, ready to play part in Boyz World Cup qualification bid; set to debut against Honduras in Nations League

  After much contemplation and being torn between representing the Three Lions of England or donning the Jamaican colours, defender Mason Holgate has finally made his decision and it is the Reggae Boyz that will have his full allegiance moving forward.

  The 27-year-old, who qualifies to represent Jamaica through his grandparents, has officially committed his international future to the Caribbean nation, a choice that brought a wave of excitement to fans and team members alike.

  For Holgate, the decision was far from easy given his upbringing in England and years of competing in the English football system.

  In a previous interview, Holgate said he was open to representing Jamaica, while in another he expressed optimism about an England call-up, noting that "everybody wants to play for England. When you're a kid, that's the ultimate.”

  Yet, it is his Jamaican roots that eventually pulled at Holgate’s heartstrings, and he is now set to make his debut with the senior Reggae Boyz in their upcoming Concacaf Nations League fixture against Honduras at the National Stadium on Monday.

  Though he is with the squad in Nicaragua for their Group B top-of-the-table clash in League A, Holgate will sit out that contest as the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) awaits clearance from FIFA.

  

  Still, Holgate is brimming with excitement.

  “I am really excited to be part of the team, and I can't wait to get out there for my first game,” Holgate declared.

  “My grandparents on my dad’s side are Jamaican, and so much of who I am is connected to this place. There's obviously a lot to look forward to in this team, so I'm excited to be here.  Obviously, the boys made me feel quite welcome straight away, so, I've enjoyed the day or so that I've been here so far,” he added.

  Holgate’s path to international football has been a unique one. He started his career at Barnsley before making the move to Everton, where he spent several seasons honing his skills in the English Premier League (EPL).

  During that time, he earned caps for England at the youth level, featuring for the Under-20 and Under-21 teams. The senior call, however, never materialized, and that left him at a crossroads regarding his international future.

  The tipping point for Holgate came as he watched Jamaica’s gradual improvement in recent years, particularly where the make-up of the team is concerned in their push for World Cup qualification.

  Seeing the likes of former Everton teammate Demarai Gray, West Ham United’s Michail Antonio, Leicester City’s Bobby Reid, and others demonstrate their unflinching desire to bring success to Jamaica’s football made it clear to Holgate that he could play a pivotal role in helping the Reggae Boyz reach the next level.

  

  “I got on really well with Dimmy [Gray], and since we both left Everton, obviously he moved to Saudi Arabia, so I haven’t seen him for a year or so now. But we're good friends; we speak all the time, so I was really looking forward to seeing him, and when I got here and saw him, I was buzzing,” Holgate shared.

  “But, yeah, I've been in the Premier League and the Championship going on League One for 10 years, so quite a lot of the boys, I know from just playing against and stuff like that. So it's been quite easy for me to come in because I've played against and knew quite a lot of them before,” the West Bromwich Albion loanee stated.

  Holgate’s experience at the highest level of English football will undoubtedly be a boost to Jamaica’s defensive ranks, and his versatility across the backline makes him a valuable asset as Englishman Steve McClaren looks to fortify his squad with a 2026 FIFA World Cup appearance in mind.

  “I think it's just a very exciting time to be part of the team. Obviously, with the new manager who's done so much before in football, and also, if you look at the squad, it gets better and it seems to look stronger every camp. We all have the goal of going to the World Cup, and that's what I want to do, and that's why I am here, and I believe that I can help get us to that point,” Holgate ended.

• Root targets 'many more runs' as Cook backs England great to set all-time record

  Joe Root is targeting "many more runs" after overtaking Alastair Cook as England's all-time leading Test run-scorer.

  The 33-year-old surpassed Cook's previous high of 12,472 on day three of the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

  Root reached the mark by piling on 71 runs in the blistering Multan heat and reached 176 not out at the end of play with England 492-3.

  "I'm obviously proud but still feel there is plenty more left to do, and many more runs left to get," Root is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

  "More than anything, the way we played as a team is what stands out - we've got ourselves back in a really good position."

  Root's 12,578 runs consist of 35 centuries, 1,355 fours and 44 sixes, coming across 146 matches.

  He is now fifth on the all-time list of run-scorers across all nations, with only Rahul Dravid (13,288), Jacques Kallis (13,289), Ricky Ponting (13,378) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) ahead of him.

  And with time still on his side age-wise, Cook has backed the man who took his England record to overtake each of those legendary names.

  "I would be betting on Root to do it," Cook told Test Match Special. "I don't see Root losing that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.

  "He's just this consistent run-scoring machine. There are other geniuses who can play genius innings, but Root is a genius with consistency."

  England have never conceded as many as Pakistan's 556 and gone on to take a first-innings lead, but they trail by just 64 runs heading into day four.

  "We've still got an opportunity to win the game, which is really exciting," Root added. "Hopefully we can kick on tomorrow."

• England call up uncapped pair Jones and Livramento

  England have called up uncapped pair Curtis Jones and Tino Livramento to their squad for this week's Nations League matches.

  Liverpool midfielder Jones and Newcastle United full-back Livramento have both been part of the senior squad before without being used.

  England confirmed the news on Wednesday and added Harry Kane is continuing his individualised programme, while Jack Grealish sat out of training with a knock.

  Morgan Gibbs-White, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo have each pulled out of the squad since it was announced after sustaining injuries over the weekend.

  The Three Lions host Greece at Wembley on Thursday and then travel to Helsinki to face Finland three days later, with both fixtures coming in Group B2.

  Jones is well known to interim England head coach Lee Carsley, with only two players having been used more under him for the Under-21s in the Three Lions squad for this week's fixtures.

  The 23-year-old played 14 times at that level for England under Carsley, level with Anthony Gordon and behind Noni Madueke (19) and Angel Gomes (16). 

  He was included as part of Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, a year on from scoring the winner in the Euro Under-21 Championship final, but did not make the final cut.

  Livramento, meanwhile, was part of the squad for last month's victories over Republic of Ireland and Finland but did not receive his maiden cap.

  The former Chelsea player has featured nine times for Newcastle this season and has helped his club side to three clean sheets, most recently in last weekend's 0-0 draw at Everton.