Josh Coulson is included in the standby squad for the England C team's forthcoming friendly international with Malta Under-21s later this month.

The match, which will be played at the Hibernians Stadium in Paola on Tuesday 17th February, is being used as an opportunity to look at a new group of players. No players that played in the International Challenge Trophy Group A decider in Italy in November, e.g. Dan Gleeson, have been included in this squad.

A 16-man squad has been selected for the friendly and Josh, who turned 20 last week, is included in the contingency squad to be called upon in case of injury or unavailability of players in the main squad.

U's boss Gary Brabin is not surprised that Josh has emerged onto the England C radar: "Josh has come on in leaps and bounds this season and he's definitely a lot fitter than he was last year.

"He would probably have liked to have played more games this season but he's the first to understand that he's got good competition from Phil Bolland and Wayne Hatswell. The formation we've used lately has given Josh the chance of playing more games, and his attitude has been different class and he's conducted himself brilliantly."

Brabin added, "He can only learn from training with the likes of Phil Bolland and Wayne Hatswell every day and I'm not surprised that he's been noticed by the England C set up."

The squads are as follows:

Malta U21 v England C

Dale ROBERTS - GK - Rushden & Diamonds FC
Steven ARNOLD - GK - Grays Athletic FC
Michael BYRON - Droylsden FC
Sean NEWTON - Droylsden FC
Martin RILEY - Kidderminster Harriers FC
Scott DOE - Weymouth FC
Ben PURKISS - York City FC
Lewis McMAHON - Gainsborough Trinity FC
Tom SHAW - Tamworth FC
Nicky WROE - Torquay United FC
Lee TOMLIN - Rushden & Diamonds FC
Lewis HALDANE - Oxford United FC
Ishmael WELSH - Grays Athletic FC
Paul CLAYTON - Alfreton Town FC
Liam HEARN - Alfreton Town FC
Jason WALKER - Barrow FC

CONTINGENCY SQUAD

Craig HOLLOWAY - GK - Braintree Town FC
Chris HUSSEY - AFC Wimbledon
Josh COULSON - Cambridge United FC
Glenn WILSON - Crawley Town FC
Olanrewaji OYEBANJO - Histon FC
Shaun DENSMORE - Altrincham FC
Paul BROWN - Barrow FC
Nicholas WRIGHT - Tamworth FC
Jake WRIGHT - Crawley Town FC
Craig NELTHORPE - Oxford United FC
Andrew FLEMING - Wrexham FC
Adam BOYES - York City FC
Adam BROWN - AFC Telford United

[Josh Coulson]

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