Demarai Gray stuns commentator as Everton man stars for Jamaica v Trinidad and Tobago
Everton winger Demarai Gray scored his first goal for Jamaica in just his second appearance after switching his international allegiance, leaving commentator Sean Saint Jacques stunned.
“He’ll make you pay” announced Saint Jacques as Gray found the back of the net, sliding the ball under the goalkeeper in a composed finish to put his side 1-0 up against Trinidad and Tobago, in a game that ended 4-1 to Jamaica.
This was Gray’s second appearance for the Reggae Boyz, having switched his international allegiance to the country of his maternal grandparents, having made 26 starts as an England youth international. Gray has become the second Premier League player to join Jamaica’s national team after Michail Antonio did the same in 2021.
Gray was right to make the switch
Eligible to represent Jamaica through his maternal grandparents, Gray was right to make the switch.
Having made 26 starts as an England youth international, Gray has since been snubbed by England bosses, and at 27 years old, this offer of international experience was too good to turn down.
A number of Premier League stars already represent Jamaica, with West Ham’s Antonio, Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, and Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey already members of the Reggae Boyz’ squad.
After scoring his first goal in just his second start, Gray must be wondering why he hadn’t made the switch earlier. England’s stacked list of wide players including the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish, meant Gray was always going to be snubbed at international level.
The focus will now be on ensuring Jamaica can perform as well as possible in the ongoing CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In other Everton news, a Toffees striker target has ‘put the breaks on’ ahead of a potential move