Kyel's England Call

TONIGHT looks set to be another proud evening for the West Ham United Academy with two players, Kyel Reid and Hogan Ephraim, included in the England Under-19 squad to take on Belgium in an international friendly.

Kyel is certainly looking forward to the game and hopes to win another England Youth cap at Darlington this evening.

"We don't know the team yet but hopefully Hogan and me will be involved," he said. "I've been with the England Under-19s before, but there are quite a few different boys in the squad this time around.

"There are a lot of younger players in there, like James Vaughan from Everton and Michael Macienne from Chelsea who have 1988 birthdays and so are technically still able to play for the England Under-18s.

"Oh, then there's this youngster called Hogan Ephraim, but I haven't heard much about him to be honest!"

Kyel jokes, of course, because he is actually delighted that Hammers team-mate Hogan is with him on the England trip.

"It's great to have someone else from West Ham in the squad," he admitted. "I do know a lot of the other lads from playing for England in the past, but it's nice to have someone that you know and another player from my team.

"It's make the travelling easier and also from a playing point of view if we do both get into the team it will definitely help to have an understanding.

"Of course, it's also a great honour for the Club to have more than one player in an international team and hopefully we can both push into the team."

Kyel joins up with the squad on something of a high after scoring with a fantastic strike in the Under-18s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on Saturday. And although rumours are rife that his wonder strike from 25 yards was something of a fluke, Kyel insists it was totally deliberate.

"I have been working on that in training," he said with a smile. "It was a deliberate shot and I planned it, but it was also a very good cross from Ishmael Welsh.

"I'll do my best to repeat with England if I get the chance!"

England Under-19s v Belgium at Darlington FC, kick-off 7.30pm.