Zim teenage midfielder ditches Zimbabwe opts for England

While Zimbabwe has failed to see any value in England-based teenage midfielder Brendan Galloway, his adopted country has included him in the England national Under-17 squad.

The Zimbabwean-born Milton Keynes Dons player was named in Kenny Swain's Under-17 squad for the Nordic tournament to be held in the Faroe Islands early next month, as well as the FA International Under-17 competition they will host from August 29 to September 2.

The Nordic contest will involve countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, while the FA tournament has Italy, Portugal and Turkey participating.

Galloway, a former pupil at St Michael's Primary School in Harare, wrote his own piece of history last year when at 15, he became the youngest player ever to play for Dons, who ply their trade in League One, two tiers below the English Premiership.

Though the player admitted to Standardsport that part of his heart was still with Zimbabwe, he found the England call-up irresistible.

"I do not know yet if I will play for Zimbabwe. I will have to see what happens, but for now I am going to play for the England Under-17 team in August," said Galloway.

Some of the England-based Zimbabwe players have made a passionate plea to be considered for national duty, but have continued to be rejected by a football environment with youths starved of international experience.