STAGS midfielder Jon D'Laryea has received a late call-up to the England C squad for a prestigious international tournament match.
D'Laryea had last month been named in the contingency squad for the International Challenge Trophy match against Italy - following his selection for a friendly in Bosnia earlier this season.
And following injuries to players in the 16-man squad, on Sunday afternoon D'Laryea learned of his late selection for the important match this Wednesday.
He will travel to Italy later this week for the Group A fixture with Italy at the Stadio Santa Columba in Benevento, near Naples. England won their last two International Challenge Trophy matches, against Wales and Finland.
Manager Paul Fairclough had selected both D'Laryea and Stags wingman Nathan Arnold for a September friendly in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Stags' England stars in flight drama - and defeat
Both played in the friendly in Sarajevo, a 6-2 defeat, after a flight drama for the internationals . . . but then failed to make the original 16-man squad for the Italy match.
Fairclough told the FA's website
thefa.com : "The forthcoming fixture against Italy is arguably the single most important fixture that this team has had to play.
"The tournament (the International Challenge Trophy) has given a new dimension to football outside the Football League by adding the excitement of all that goes with playing European opposition.
"Preparations for this game have been under way for months, the team will meet up on Sunday and from that very moment a careful process will commence that will deliver the players into a peak physical and mental state for the kick-off on Wednesday afternoon.
"We will not be alone out in Italy as we expect parents and friends to make the long trip. Indeed, a contingent of 20 Barnet supporters will travel to Benevento having followed the team to Finland last November."
Fairclough added: "The squad selected has experienced campaigners at this level. It is complemented by a number of new, hungry and exciting players.
"Whilst a draw would suffice we will not fall into the trap that snatched a place in the final from the Republic of Ireland last month.
"The Irish sat for a draw in their final group fixture against Belgium only to have their hearts broken by a very late Belgium super strike.
"We will be going to Italy intent on winning the game and securing a place in the final."
