Exeter City youngsters Luke Cole and James Wannell have been selected for the England Schoolboys’ under-18s squad. The pair have made it through several intensive rounds of trials before being included in a final 21-man squad.

Full-back Cole and keeper Wannell will now hope to play in the international clash against Australia at Shrewbury Town on January 27.

City youth boss Mike Radford said: “I am delighted for them, delighted for the club and delighted for Exeter College.

“It endorses all the good work that we are doing at youth level. These boys have got through a long series of trials and assessments and have now been selected at international level. There won’t be many clubs around who can boast three boys at international level, so we are delighted for them. The boys have worked hard and they have obviously proved through their performances and the development weekends that they deserve their selection. It will be a great experience for them and something they will treasure for the rest of their lives. To put an England schoolboy shirt on is a great honour.”

Cole, who can play as left or right full-back has featured for the reserves on several occasions this season, while Wannell is a highly rated keeper. Meanwhile, City defender Mitchell O’Donnell is also likely to make the final squad if he can prove his fitness over the coming weeks. O’Donnell suffered knee ligament damage in a Football League Youth Alliance clash against Yeovil Town last September.

Initial medical forecasts suggested that he may be ruled out for the rest of the season. But O’Donnell is back in training and will be on the bench in tomorrow’s Football Conference Youth League clash against Thatcham Town. Radford added: “He is back in training. He has not played any games yet, but we intend to give him some game- ime this week.

“But with the games being off we were unable to get him in. We want to give him some game time and make sure there is no reaction to their injury. He will be on the bench tomorrow and hopefully we can get him on. If he can prove his fitness then he will also be put back into the England squad, which would be a boost for him as well.”

Exeter City under-18s were left frustrated over the weekend after both games against Oxford United and New College, Swindon were postponed because of the weather.