KEVIN Nolan will take the next step on the road to the Under 21 honours Sam Allardyce has confidently predicted next month.

The young Wanderer, who has duelled with the best of the Premiership, has been named in a 24-strong England squad for an U-20s friendly international against Portugal at the St Mary's Stadium, Southampton on Wednesday, November 21.

The international call is a reward for the 19-year-old's top flight performances which have enhanced his fast-growing reputation as one of the best young midfield players in the country.

Having figured prominently in last season's promotion campaign when he won U-18s honours, the Liverpool-born product of the Reebok Academy made a sensational start to the Premiership, scoring twice in Wanderers' 5-0 opening day win at Leicester.

He has gone head to head with experienced players with big reputations, including Robbie Savage, Steven Gerrard, David Batty, Patrick Vieira and, notably, against a Manchester United trio of Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Juan Sebastian Veron when he scored a sensational third goal of the season in the memorable 2-1 Old Trafford victory.

Having introduced Nolan to first team football and seen him make such a powerful impact, Allardyce has repeatedly expressed surprise that his young charge has been overlooked by U-21s boss David Platt. But inclusion in Les Reed's U-20s suggests the call will not be far away.

The Wanderers boss applauded the youngster's achievement and welcomed the introduction of an U-20s fixture: "It's a good sign for England because there are a lot of players who can't get in the U-21s because they are doing so well.

"Kevin faces fierce competition and it looks like he's going to have to be a little bit patient.

"It's frightening to think he is playing regularly in the Premiership and still has two more years to qualify for the U-21s."

Nolan, who set his sights on England honours despite qualifying by ancestry for the Republic of Ireland, said: "It's a great honour for the club and for myself. To represent your country at any level is a fantastic achievement and I'm thoroughly delighted to wear the 'three lions' again."