ARSENAL starlet Adam Birchall, a prolific striker for Maidstone District and Kent Schools, has received his first England call-up.

Birchall, 17, who lives in Grove Green in Maidstone and goes to Linton's Cornwallis School, has been picked for the England under-18 youth side to play in Italy on Wednesday.

The youngeter, Birchall, who has been with the Premiership giants since he was 10 years old, has been selected for England after top scoring for the Arsenal under-17s this season with 25 goals.

Strong, stocky and very quick across the turf, Birchall has also featured in the Arsenal under-19 side, scoring three goals in three games.

Birchall started his career with Maidstone club Vinters Park before moving on to Bearsted. While at Bearsted he was scouted by Charlton and went to their School of Excellence for eight months before being signed up by Arsenal.

It was while playing for Maidstone District in a tournament that Birchall attracted Arsenal’s attention and he has been awarded two-year contracts from the time he was 10 until receiving a coveted scholarship last summer.

As well as training with the other Arsenal hopefuls, who come from all over the world, Birchall goes back to Cornwallis School two days a week to study for A-level PE and English.

He said: “I owe a lot to my mum and dad, Steve and Sue, and also my brothers, Jason and Joe."