'Enjoy playing for England'
Thursday, 01 November, 2012
Kenny Swain urges his U16s to make the most of their international football experience
Kenny Swain has urged his England U16s to enjoy the experience of playing international football.
The Young Lions will take on Wales in Port Talbot on Thursday in the second match of this season’s Victory Shield and the Head Coach wants his players to make the most of the occasion.
He said: “Playing for England at any level is something you should cherish.
“Not many people get that opportunity, so I hope all the boys enjoy it and really make the most of it. Hopefully it will spur them on to want to make it into the next squad.
“These players have done well to get this far but they know they have got an awful long way still to go in the game, so it’s important they don’t get carried away.
“Having said that, I have been really pleased with the way they have applied themselves so far.”
Seven members of the current squad travelled to Northern Ireland last month as England eased to a 5-0 win.
The remaining players are all enjoying their maiden England call-up and Swain wants his young charges to pick up where they left off in Tyrone.
He added: “We were understandably a bit nervous early on but the goals settled us down and then I thought we controlled the game, so I was pleased with the overall performance.
“I was happy with the composure that we showed too. We struggle to get older players to show that composure, but it’s all about learning at this stage and we’ll continue to develop them.
“We want that development to continue against Wales.”