Former Norwich City loanee Isaac Hayden has switched his international allegiance from England to Jamaica and will represent the Reggae Boys for the first time over the next fortnight. 

The defensive midfielder, 29, has been included in Steve McClaren's squad for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against the USA, which will be played over two legs. 

Hayden qualifies for the Caribbean nation through his father's heritage and hopes to use the opportunity to reignite his club career, having failed to make an appearance at Newcastle this season. 

He was linked with a host of Championship clubs during the summer but failed to secure a move. Hayden made 14 appearances for Norwich in the 2022/23 campaign, arriving as one of four summer additions under Dean Smith. 

McClaren expressed his delight at securing Hayden's service ahead of the upcoming break and explained why he'd decided to u-turn on his previous rejection of Jamaica. 

“There is Isaac Hayden, who I think the JFF had been chasing for quite some time. I’ve had two or three calls with him since I took the job.

"He is desperate to play because he is in that stage in his career where he needs to kick on, and this is one of the ways that he can,” McClaren explained to the Gleaner.

“He is a welcome addition to our squad, in terms of a genuine number six who has played at the highest level in that position.”

Hayden has previously rebuffed advances from the nation due to his ambitions to represent England at a senior level, having played for the Three Lions at every age group from U16 to U21.

He spoke about his rejection of Jamaica on the Steven Sulley Study podcast back in December 2022, during his loan spell at Carrow Road. 

“Jamaica approached me two years ago. They wanted me to get a passport and play for them,” he said. “Whether people want to accept it or not I said to them my dream has been to play for England. I still have that dream. I have the mentality nothing is impossible so until I retire, or my legs don’t move, I will continue to believe that.

Isaac Hayden hasn't played a game of club football this season.Isaac Hayden hasn't played a game of club football this season. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) "In my head, even though at the moment I am miles away, I have that mentality. I said that to them," Hayden said previously. 

“The pitch from them was we have loads joining, people like Ravel Morrison and Michail Antonio, and we are going to get to the World Cup. But I said if my motivation is to get Jamaica to the World Cup, that is not right.

"It would have to be I want to play for them. Not to deprive someone of a place who is desperate to play for Jamaica.  

“I have played every single England age group from 16s to 21s but not the first team. For me to join up with Jamaica would be for the wrong reasons.”