Greenwood ‘deserves second chance’: Hallgrimsson

DALLAS, Texas (CMC):

Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said he is ready to welcome England outcast Mason Greenwood into the Caribbean powerhouses set-up, stressing that everyone “deserves a second chance”.

The 22-year-old forward, who qualifies to represent Jamaica through his father, has played once for England, featuring as a substitute against Iceland in a Nations League contest four years ago.

His recent legal troubles means he is unlikely to represent the Three Lions again.

Greenwood was arrested and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2022, but had the charges subsequently dropped after “the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light”,

Manchester United has since shipped him on loan to La Liga side Getafe, where he has netted seven times for the season.

“I really don’t like to talk about ‘what if’, but this, of course, has come to our mind,” The Athletic quoted Hallgrimsson as saying earlier this week.

“I would love to have him in my team. Like all coaches, I would like to have the best players in our team, but it’s always up to the player himself, if he wants to do it.”

United are expected to make a decision on Greenwood’s future this summer, with speculation rife the English powerhouses will cut all ties with the player and put him up for sale.

Last year, England manager Gareth Southgate sidestepped questions on Greenwood’s international future, citing the “very complex case”.

Hallgrimsson said it would be up to the Jamaica Football Federation on whether to court Greenwood, but believed there should be redemption for the pacy striker.

“That will then be up to the Federation. It’s not the coach who is going to answer for something like that. I’m not an expert in this,” he said.

“I just look at the person. I think what he has gone through in the year-and-a-half since it happened is worse than I can imagine, being in the press and on social media.

“I can only imagine what he has been going through. The case went through stages and the case was dropped, so it’s not up to me or anyone else to judge him on that.

“It was no less a person than Jesus Christ who said, those who are without sin should throw the first stone. Whatever happened, everybody at least deserves a second chance. And he knows that all eyes are on him.”

Jamaica are preparing to face confederation giants United States in the semi-final of the Concacaf Nations League here on March 21.