ARGYLE'S talented teenage striker Liam Head has been given another chance to establish himself in the England Under-17 squad for the UEFA U17 Championship qualifiers which take place in Spain in October.

First-year professional Damien McCrory has also been offered the chance to continue his international development.

The young winger has been called-up by the Republic of Ireland for an international friendly tournament involving Portungal, Ukraine and Spain.

The tournament takes place in Ireland at the end of August and marks a continuation of the excellent progress McCrory has made throughout Argyle's pre-season campaign.   

Striker Liam, (16), is included in an 18-strong squad for a four-team tournament which takes place at various venues in East Anglia during the last week of August.

England play Portugal at Rushden & Diamonds on Wednesday August 27 (ko 7pm), Israel at Peterborough on Friday August 29 (ko 7pm) and Italy at Northampton on Sunday August 31 (ko 3pm).

This will be the last chance for national under-17 manager John Peacock and his assistant Kenny Swain to view candidates for the UEFA Championship team in international match action prior to their naming their final squad.

Liam first gained international honours last season, when he helped the England Under-16 squad win the Victory Shield last autumn, and although he was omitted from their subsequent two friendlies against Holland in February, he was recalled for the prestigious Montaign tournament in France at Easter, which England won.

Then, last month, he was only on standby for the Nordic tournament in Sweden, in which England finished fourth out of the eight competing countries, so his recall for the games later this month represents a good opportunity for him to stake a claim to play in Spain in October.

Liam, who joined Argyle's apprentice ranks at the end of June, has had a frustrating pre-season, due to an ankle injury, but is expected to play in the Youth Team's testing away friendly against Aston Villa at their Bodymoor Heath training ground on Saturday (ko 1pm).

But defender Ashley Hodgkinson is forced to sit out the Villa game and Argyle's opening Puma Youth Alliance game against Bristol Rovers at Bolitho Park August 23 (ko 11am), plus the Reserves' game at Swindon on August 19, due to a disciplinary suspension carried over from last season.

He was sent off for violent conduct in the final Youth Alliance game of last season and has been banned from playing throughout the period that Argyle's first team play their opening four competitive matches.

Argyle's Youth team's away friendly at Queens Park Rangers on Monday has been cancelled due to problems with the pitches at Rangers' training ground.