Spence ready for duty

West Ham United Jordan Spence is part of the England Under-19 squad for Tuesday night's friendly against Spain at AFC Bournemouth's Dean Court ground.

Spence, who is currently on loan at League One side Leyton Orient, is part of a strong selection containing Everton youngsters Jack Rodwell and Daniel Gosling, Arsenal playmaker Jack Wilshere and Aston Villa striker Nathan Delfouneso.

Brian Eastick's side are in good form, having beaten Germany 1-0 at Colchester United's Weston Homes Community Stadium in November. Spence, who captained the side in their three UEFA European Championship qualifying matches against Albania, Northern Ireland and Serbia last October, will be hoping to earn his fifth cap at U19 level.

The composed central defender, who can also operate at right-back, previously skippered the England Under-17 side at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Korea in 2007, scoring in the final seconds to defeat Brazil in the group stages. Spence's goal was the only winner ever scored by an England player against Brazil in a competitive international at any level. England went on to reach the quarter-finals before being beaten by Germany.

Tonight's match, a 9,000 sell-out, will see Eastick's team continue their preparations for the European Championship Elite Round qualifying fixtures with Scotland, Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which are to be staged in England in May.

Meanwhile, academy striker Robert Hall is preparing for England's Under-16 friendly against Germany at Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion in Hoffenheim on 17 February.