England date for Spence

Jordan Spence has earned another international call-up after being named in the England squad to face the Czech Republic in an Under-19 friendly.

Still only 18, the defender who has captained England at every youth level, is on loan to Leyton Orient until the end of the season, and has excelled for the League One side. Spence is also a key man for his country and should figure when the Young Lions enter May's elite qualifying round for a place in the UEFA European Under-19 finals to be held in Ukraine this July.

Standing in England's way are Scotland, Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and the match against the Czechs - to be played at the Banks's Stadium home of Walsall at 7pm on Wednesday 25 March - will be a vital warm-up. As well as Spence, the squad includes players with top-flight experience like Jack Rodwell (Everton), Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa) and Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United).

Spence has played eight times for Orient since joining them for a second loan spell in January, having been an unused substitute for West Ham in the first three games of this season. His international pedigree is outstanding, having been capped six times at U16 level, 30 times at U17, two times at U18 and seven times so far for the U19s.