THREE Oxford United youngsters will be responding to a call-up from their country this weekend.

Centre back Kelvin McIntosh, left back Simon King and winger Chris Hackett have all been selected to play for the FA Youth XI against the Combined Services XI at Portsmouth on Sunday (2pm), while Jordan Holder has been placed on stand-by.

This is one of three fixtures the Under-19 FA Youth XI are playing and they are taking the opportunity to look at a host of different players. Former Oxford Boys skipper Mathew Davies was chosen to play for the FA Youth XI side against the South West Counties at The Dell last Monday, when he came up against James Saulsbury, of Lord Williams's School, Thame, who was in the South West side. Hackett and defender Jon Shepheard represented an Under 18 England Youth side at Dorchester last year. "It's a good honour for the kids and a big honour for the club," said United's assistant coach Les Taylor. "From what I gather, we're the only club to have three boys selected."

Meanwhile, although United's youth team lost 2-0 to West Brom at Iffley Road on Tuesday, there was another accomplished performance from midfielder Dean Whitehead, who in recent weeks has been head and shoulders above many of his colleagues.

This is the time of year when United have got to make decisions on their second years - Adam Hamp and Sam Ricketts - are their other two.

Whitehead, who made his first-team debut when coming on as a substitute in the Auto Windscreens Shield win over Luton, looks a very good bet to get a contract.

Story date: Friday 25 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.