Goalkeeper named in 18-man Under-19 European Championships squad

Wigan Athletic's 17-year-old goalkeeper Lee Nicholls has been named in England's 18-man squad for the upcoming 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championships in France.

After impressing Head Coach Noel Blake in the team's initial training camp Nicholls was selected to travel with the team for the upcoming tournament and is the youngest in the squad.

Nicholls is on the back of a fantastic first season at the club which saw him cement a place in the reserves side early on before securing a professional contract shortly before Christmas and making the first team squad for January's FA Cup tie against Hull City.

At the end of the season he scooped the Michael Millet award for Young Player of the Season.

Roberto Martinez was delighted with the news;

"Lee has had a fantastic season and has deserved his call-up which will give him and everyone else at the club a real boost," said the gaffer.

"The experience he will gain at the Championships will be invaluable to him and we all wish him the best of luck in France."

England get their campaign underway on July 18^th against Austria, before playing the Netherlands (21^st July) and France (24^th July) who making up the rest of their group.

Norwich City's Declan Rudd is the squad's other goalkeeper which also includes players such as Aston Villa's Nathan Delfouneso, and Sunderland's Ryan Noble who was in top-form in last season's Premier Reserve League.