BASINGSTOKE Town midfielder Simon Dunn will get a taste of international football later this month after being selected to represent England Universities.

The 20-year-old will travel to Nottingham to play in a home nations tournament after impressing the England coaches during trials held in Loughborough last week.

Dunn said: “I am really pleased. I was not expecting to get in because the two coaches are from Loughborough and Hartpury and they took a few players with them.

“Only 16 out of the 45 players at the trials got through so it is really good. Hopefully I can get in the starting 11 because I was the only left sided midfielder at the trials.”

Dunn was invited to the trials after a string of fine performances for the University of Bath, helping them to reach the final of the British Universities and Colleges Sport Championship. The final will be played at Selhurst Park in early May, with Stirling providing the opposition.

Having grown up in Tadley, Basingstoke is Dunn’s local club – and this season has seen the midfielder break into the first team, making 15 appearances so far, scoring once.

“I am really enjoying it,” he said. “There is a great set-up here, training is great and the lads have all been really good to me.”

Dunn was part of the Southampton youth system, where he was coached by Town assistant manager Kevin Braybrook, while he joined the Basingstoke academy at the age of 16, playing under current boss Jason Bristow.

“Jason has been my main mentor for the last two or three years,” Dunn added. “He is always there for me to chat to, while I know Kevin well from my time at Southampton and they work brilliantly together.”

Most of Dunn’s Town appearances this season have come from the substitutes’ bench but the stylish midfielder is happy to bide his time.

“I enjoy training and when I have had the chance to play I think I have done alright,” he said. “It’s just a case of waiting for my opportunity but I am still young.

“I have got to be patient because all of the midfielders are playing well so it is hard to get into the team. We have some great players like Wes Daly, Shaun McAuley and Jide Ogunbote, who has done really well recently.

“Seeing Jide force his way into the side has shown that there is a pathway. He has had to be patient but he has done well since the management changed and hopefully I can learn from him.

“I hope I can be involved again next season. If I am offered a contract I would sign it because I really want to stay.”