Dean Bowditch who came off the bench to make his Ipswich Town debut - providing the supply-line for both goals - in Sunday's 2-0 win over East Anglian rivals Norwich City at Carrow Road, is in the side along with Derby County's youngest ever player, Lee Holmes, who made his debut for the Rams on Boxing Day.

Holmes was in the Under-16 set-up for their games against Spain, Holland and Germany earlier this season and has recently made the step up. Now Derby team mate Nathan Doyle, who scored against the Dutch and Germans, follows him with Mark Noble from West Ham.

The quality on offer to Peacock is extremely promising for the future of English football, both in the coming weeks as the Under-17s attempt to qualify for May's Euro Championships in Portugal, and beyond. The FA's acting Technical Director Les Reed is also excited about what these boys can acheive: "The team I have high hopes of is the Under-17s team under John Peacock," he told TheFA.com

"I am convinced if they get to the European Finals we will have a great chance of qualifying through those for the FIFA World U 17 Youth Championships in August."

James Milner has already highlighted the potential within the squad, since the Leeds United youngster's last appearance for England just before Christmas, he has gone on to become a regular in the Premier League for Terry Venables' men, and there are others who look destined for a bright future.

"Yet again," added Reed, "Even at this level Milner, Holmes and Tom Huddlestone (Derby) are making an impression at first-team level, so John may also be hampered due to the success of the development programme."

In the front-line Luke Moore, who won The FA Youth Cup with Aston Villa in May by beating Wayne Rooney's Everton, will be hoping to follow in his brother's footsteps - 19 year old Stefan has already made fifteen appearances for the Villans, while Ryan Jarvis is part of Nigel Worthington's first team squad at Norwich.

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