TOM PINNEGAR, from Ashton Keynes, has forced his way into England’s U21 hockey side two years early.

Nineteen-year-old goalkeeper Pinnegar, a former Cirencester Hockey Club player who is now attached to Premier League side Cannock, turned out for the young England team which lost 2-0 to the senior Egypt side at Bisham Abbey last week.

On the following two days, Egypt gave the full England team plenty to think about when losing 3-1 and then forcing a 3-3 draw. “I thought I did well in the Egypt game,” said Tom. “It was 0-0 at half-time and their two goals were both counter attacks which I could little about. One was a three-on-one situation and the other was a one-on-one.”

Though the youngest keeper in the squad, Pinnegar clearly impressed the coaches as he has been invited to a training camp at Lilleshall next week when the U21s play their counterparts from Malaysia on four consecutive days.

“It should be a good test as hockey is the national sport in Malaysia and they have plenty of funding,” said Tom, who is due to start his second year at Nottingham Trent University in the autumn.

He also hopes to break into the Cannock first team especially with No.1 keeper James Fair, having plenty of international commitments.

Pinnegar also aims to cement his place in the U21 side and is already focusing on two major tournaments on the distant horizon.

“I would love to be involved in the European U21 Championships next year and in 2013 I will still be eligible for the World Cup,” he said.