FOOTBALLER Cianan Breen has been selected for the English Schools Under 18s national team.

The South Dartmoor Community College sixth-former impressed the England selectors on three occasions and has secured his place in the squad in friendly games against the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force at Lilleshall.

Steve Dinnie, assistant principal and director of sport, said: ‘Cianan is the only player from Devon and Cornwall to make the national team and we are very proud of his achievement and his development through our Football Academy at South Dartmoor, which is run in association with Chelsea.

‘He plays against Walsall FC in a friendly game at the end of the month then jets off to the England training camp at Villareal in Spain in February, prior to competing in the Centenary Shield against Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland in March.

‘It will be a fantastic experience for him and an opportunity to compete against international players from across the home nations.’

Mr Dinnie added that Cianan follows in the footsteps of Chris Smalling of Manchester United and Exeter City’s David Wheeler. Smalling was part of the 2008 to 2009 ESFA national squad and was picked up by Fulham FC playing against Scotland. Smalling has gone on to play more than 100 times for Manchester United and has 21 caps for the full England team.