Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

AFTER AN exceptional season for newly-promoted English Championship division outfit Sunderland, defender Nyron Nosworthy is ready to heed the call of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, if or when it is made.

Nosworthy, who signed with Sunderland on a free transfer from Gillingham in 2005, was a key part of the team's successful bid for promotion to the top flight which saw them finish in the top spot.

While born in Brixton, south London, the player affectionately known as 'Nuggsy', is of Jamaican ancestry by virtue of the fact that his father is Jamaican and apparently that has played a key role in his active interest in representing the nation.

Representing Jamaica

"It's Jamaica for me, hands down. My dad is from there and I'd like to represent them," said Nosworthy in a chat with fans on the club's official website when asked about the possibility of representing England.

The 25-year-old who plays with Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke, is capable of playing both the right back and centre-back positions. He has spent most of his career playing the former, but has been a revelation since being moved to the centre-back position by Sunderland boss Roy Keane. In fact, he was voted Sunderland's player of the year for the recently-concluded season.

"I have to concentrate a lot more now and organise the people around me," Nosworthy was quoted as saying.

"I've taken to the position and we are winning games. I'm enjoying it and I think it has brought my game on a lot," he said.

Nosworthy's interest could begood news for Jamaica who will be looking to bulk up their defensive unit ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers which start early next year.

Efforts to reach the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) officials to see if they had had any contact with the Sunderland defender were unsuccessful.