Teenage Herne Bay footballer Elliot Cutts has made the cut for the English Schools FA under-18 squad after progressing through five selection stages.

The midfielder, who has represented the Bay first team in Ryman League Division 1 South, aswell as starring for the under-18s in the East Kent Youth League Premier Division, is in the 23-man squad in line to appear in the Sky Sports-televised Centenary Shield between the Home Nations, which begins next month.

The Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury, student has played for Bay since the age of 12, having previously turned out for Tyler Hill.

England face Australia in a warm-up friendly on February 4 before the Centenary Shield gets underway with the clash against Wales at Truro on February 27.

Bay under-18s boss Ben Smith said: “It’s a great honour for Elliot, the club and the players that have worked with him. He has always had great potential and has made massive improvements in the last few seasons.

“Pro clubs have looked at him in the past but never taken the final step to sign him and maybe his efficiency wasn’t quite there but over the last year or so he has added end product to his game on a consistent basis and I believe he is a player that would flourish given the chance.”

Last March Cutts helped the Kent Schools side claim the under-18 Inter Counties Trophy with an extra-time win over Essex at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

He was one of 33 players chosen for a provisional squad after 67 players from across the country attended an ESFA Development Day at Lilleshall in November.

Former Herne Bay youngster Rene Armstrong has also been selected for the Shield squad.