Italian Job

England under-21 manager Peter Taylor is currently drawing up a squad from the Nationwide League to tackle their Italian League Serie 'B' counterparts in Italy later this month.

In a departure from previous years the Nationwide squad is being picked on an under-21 basis.

York City boss Alan Little believes the Minstermen's top scorer Cresswell should net a place among the Nationwide League's young guns.

"Obviously it's up to other people to decide, but the way Richard Cresswell has started this season I believe he well deserves a chance," enthused Little.

The City boss said that it should not matter that Cresswell plays in Division Two when the obvious route for Taylor would be to plump for players operating exclusively in the Nationwide First Division.

"If selection is going on age as an under-21 squad, then he has got to be in the frame. Richard is one of the best young strikers in this division and has put in some excellent performances this season."

Had City's midfield star Alan Pouton not been sidelined by his nagging Achilles injury he should also be considered, insisted Little.

"I would put Pouton in the same class as Cresswell. If Richard was picked it would be a major boost for him and also for the club."

Cresswell was today leading the City strikeforce in their FA Cup first round tie at lowly Enfield, where he was striving to end his four-game drought by going into double figures.

Since regularly hitting the mark this season Cresswell has attracted a bevy of scouts to City games. Coventry manager Gordon Strachan is reported to have personally checked out the form of the 21-year-old marksman.

The Anglo-Italian representative match will be played on Wednesday, November 25 in Terni, east of Rome and a venue used regularly by the full Italian national side

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