Speaking to Will Jones for this week's "On The Spot", the manager broke the news that central defenders Marc Joseph and Scott Eustace are both injured and struggling to be fit. That might explain why Ben Chenery played the full 90 minutes for the reserves yesterday, and was in central defence for the second half.

CUSA chairman Brian Attmore reports that the Away Travel scheme is off to a very good start this season with numbers "well up". He continued, "Internet publicity along with details posted on Radio Cambridgeshire, the CEN, the Ely Standard and more posters are all adding up to a pleasing response."

"We have given away two stupid free kicks on the edge of the box and they scored from one," he complained to the media afterwards. "Basically poor defending has again let us down. They hit us on the break several times ... it's worrying at the moment the way we are defending."

"Sadly it is a little bit touch and go. We all thought by now we would have resolved it. From our point of view we have done our bit, and it is a situation the other club has to resolve. The ball, in a sense, is firmly in their and the player's court. I will keep my fingers crossed that over the next 24 hours this might change."

However there has been one addition to the squad today. As reported yesterday, Scott Paterson has played in the last two reserve games and this morning the former Carlisle defender/midfielder signed on a non-contract basis to allow United to take a longer look at him.

Update: The information this morning was that Paterson had not been issued a squad number and therefore would not be involved tomorrow, but the very latest is that he was issued number 29 late this afternoon and so could possibly feature at some stage against Gillingham.

He is described by fans of Carlisle and Cardiff City (where he enjoyed a successful loan spell) as a composed and skillful central defender with good ability in the air and on the ground, but who looks too slow to play in midfield. Roy McFarland and David Preece have so far referred to him as a midfielder so it remains to be seen what role they might have in mind for him.

The manager also revealed in yesterday's interview that Aston Villa striker Darren Byfield is available on a free transfer, and the club and the player are treating his month's loan as a good opportunity to take a long look at each other.

Byfield, who turns 23 next Wednesday, was previously valued at around £500,000 but has found his first team opportunities severely limited at Villa Park.

In response to a supporter's question, McFarland explained: "David Preece and I have watched this player for the last two years and monitored his progress. We would like to have got him before now, but we couldn't because they wanted a fee for him. At the moment they are prepared to let him go for nothing.

"I know the chief scout and the manager there very well and they have kept me in touch about the situation. One or two clubs were, in a sense, queuing up to get him. He had already been to Northampton and didn't really enjoy his experience.

"He is the type of player I would love to see come here. I need to assess if he can handle this league and settle in with the players, and we are able to assess this over the next month. Hopefully during that time we will see if he can fit in, that's the main thing."

Gillingham, who suffered late heartbreak at the hands of Manchester City in the Division Two play-off final in May, are tomorrow's visitors's to the Abbey, and McFarland stressed the importance of the home supporters if the Us are to record only the second win of the season.

"I feel here, if we give our supporters something to shout about, they will be noisy and they will be vociferous and get behind us," he said. "That is very important at the moment because we know our position and we need to pick up points. This is a very good opportunity for us to do it."

Alex Russell and Clive Wilson are already ruled out through injury and Neil Mustoe will have a late fitness test tomorrow on a niggling injury that has bothered him all week. If he fails to make it, United's already depleted midfield will be threadbare and player-coach David Preece might be called upon to make his first appearance of the season.

Brighton took an early lead but Lamey equalised from the rebound after his spot kick was saved, then added a second by lobbing the 'keeper just before the break. Brighton levelled mid-way through the second half but Daniel Chillingworth scored the 70th minute winner after a solo run through the defence.

It was trialist Scott Paterson's second game for the reserves. A former central defender with Liverpool, Bristol City and Carlisle United, the 27-year-old was pushed forward to play in midfield last season for Carlisle before being released.

Team: Marshall, Armstrong, Gibson, Tann, Paterson, McNeil, Ingham, McAvoy, Chillingworth, Lamey, Preece.
Subs: Hill, Mercer, Howe, Haniver, Lockhart

The reserves are in action at Brighton tonight (7pm) and, judging by recent games, there could be trialists involved for United.

Cambridge United have installed a new turnstile monitoring system at the Abbey Stadium which will be in operation for the first time on Saturday, when Gillingham are the visitors.

Club secretary Andrew Pincher explained, "The system, which had to be changed to become Year 2000 compliant, will offer a whole host of additional features and statistics and can be easily adapted should we redevelop the Abbey Stadium."

Roy McFarland's former joint manager at Bolton Wanderers, Colin Todd, has left the Lancashire club by mutual agreement. Under Bruce Rioch he coached Bolton to promotion in 1993 and 1995 and after Rioch departed for Arsenal he held a joint management role with McFarland for half a season before taking sole charge in January 1996.

The draw for the Football League Youth Alliance Cup has been made, producing the following fixtures for United's youth team: Colchester (a) on 23rd October, Southend (h) on 30th October, Luton Town (a) on 6th November, and Barnet (h) on 20th November.

McFarland originally commented that, in view of the club's excellent disciplinary record and his own reputation in the game, he would not pay the fine unless the FA explained their reasons for imposing the punishment. No further details were available from the club today.

Speaking to Press and radio after Saturday's defeat at Millwall he singled out the 22-year-old for criticism, and in today's Cambridge Evening News he said, "I always try to defend players, but I can't on this occasion, Jerry (Joseph) has to take the responsibility for the goals. I told him immediately we got back into the changing room and he accepted it. He has to learn from it."

Defensive partner Andy Duncan has made his share of errors this season and last, but so far seems to have escaped the ignominy of being singled out for public blame and has kept his place. Tellingly, the whole back line has looked so shaky this season that some supporters have started to wonder about the wisdom of allowing Jamie Campbell, last season's whipping boy, to leave for Brighton.

Joseph, who missed the end of last season and much of the pre-season preparation with a thigh injury, took the criticism on the chin.

"Teams and individuals make mistakes, he told the CEN. "The manager put the blame mainly on me and I have to accept it. I had a couple of poor spells in the match. As a defence we are not performing well enough and somebody has to emerge to be a leader at the back. It's only my third game back in the side and I believe I'm good enough to be in the team. Now it's down to me to prove it."

McFarland saw the game thus: "We rode our luck in the first half, in which the goalkeeper did his job very well to keep us in the game and when we took the lead early in the second, we had a chance then to go on and win if we could have remained solid for a while.

"But Millwall were able to equalise quickly because we were asleep at a free kick. It wasn't quickly taken and it was in our own half, but Jerry (Joseph) gave the boy Harris all the space he needed, and more. I've no idea what he he thought he was doing. Jerry will be very disappointed when we look at the video of the match, because for the second goal he allowed the player to get behind to take a cross at the far post. Poor defending."

United's current front line always looks capable of scoring goals but former central defender McFarland, with 28 England caps to his name, has to get the defence sorted out sooner rather than later if he is to arrest United's alarming slide down the table.

Described as a 'pacy forward', Byfield will be 23 on 29th September and had a short loan spell at Preston North End last season, scoring on his debut before being injured in his second game. He is expected to start tomorrow at Millwall and has been allocated shirt number 19.

Roy McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News, "We are taking Darren with a view to it being long term. We've been watching him for a while. We tried to get him last season but he wasn't ready for a move, so we switched then to Richard Walker.

"Darren is another of those players who have not quite broken into a very high standard Premiership side, and is at the stage where what he wants is league football. He's a fast, mobile player who should fit in well, although it is never easy making a quick transition like this."

Millwall, seeking their first win of the season, have injury worries about Paul Moody and Joe Dolan who are both struggling with groin strains. United will of course be without Clive Wilson (hamstring) and Alex Russell (thigh) for up to four weeks.

In yesterday's weekly "On The Spot" interview for U's Net, McFarland warned against United becoming Millwall's first victims of the season and added, "If we are going to go there and do well we have to put the second half performance against Brentford into a 90-minute package. The response I have had from the players this week has been excellent and I just hope we can go there and get our first away win."

John Taylor spoke to the Cambridge Evening News yesterday about trialist Scott Paterson. The former Liverpool, Bristol City and Carlisle United man was previously regarded as a composed central defender, although he was pushed forward into midfield last season by Carlisle before being released by them in February after an injury-hit spell.

27-year-old Paterson played for United's reserves in the 2-2 draw against Barnet at the Abbey on Wednesday afternoon, and reserve team manager Taylor said, "He showed some nice touches. We knew he could play and pass, but he obviously lacks match fitness, having not played this season.

"It's going to take longer for him to get to that level than he initially has on trial with us, so that could make it a bit more difficult to make a long-term decision."

Meanwhile Roy McFarland could soon be surfing the Internet checking out players and submitting offers by e-mail!

It was reported earlier this week that the League Managers Association have issued its members with free laptop computers to enable them to conduct their private business via a highly secure Xtranet service.

LMA chairman John Barnwell says managers will be able to chat online with other managers around the world to discuss player transfers without fear of spies, adding, "It is all about private communication for the managers. They will not have to worry about not being able to get through on the phone, time differences on the other side of the world or anyone listening-in to conversations.

The Scottish-born 18 year-old is a highly-regarded defender who made his full debut in last season's epic Third Round Worthington Cup tie at Nottingham Forest.

McNeil, who was a product of the Cambridge United Youth set-up and is now in his second season as a professional, commented, "I am delighted with the new deal, especially as I am only in my first full season as a pro. Breaking into the team last season was a real bonus - it's up to me to work hard to earn another first team start."

Meanwhile trialist Mark Graham has been released. The former QPR winger had a trial spell at the Abbey late last season and again in pre-season before signing a one month contract. That deal expired last week and it was announced today that the player is leaving the club, with reserve team manager John Taylor explaining that Graham had not really taken his chance.

The reserves drew 2-2 against Barnet at the Abbey this afternoon in the Avon Combination Cup. The team included 21-year-old midfielder Paul Shepherd from Leeds and Scott Paterson, a 27-year-old central defender formerly of Liverpool, Bristol City and Carlisle United. Shepherd is described as pacy, can play at full-back as well, and has had loan spells at Ayr United and Tranmere Rovers, while Roy McFarland apparently tried to sign Paterson during the summer.

United's goals were scored by Tom Youngs and Michael Kyd, but Barnet scored a late equaliser and United had to settle for the draw. Will Jones was at the match and commented that although the trialists were fairly quiet, new England Under-18 international Adam Tann had a good game at right-back.

Cambridge United: 1 Shaun Marshall 2 Adam Tann 3 Larry McAvoy 4 Scott Paterson 5 Martin McNeil 6 Scott Eustace 7 Paul Shepherd 8 Tom Youngs 9 Michael Kyd 10 Nathan Lamey 11 Robert Miller
Subs: 12 Andrew Ingham 13 Darren Cockrill 14 Dean Armstrong 15 Leighton Hill 16 Daniel Chillingworth

The veteran left-back has proved a real success since his summer signing on a free transfer from Spurs and his absence will be a blow. Recent signing Jamie Cassidy is expected to replace Wilson at left back, after turning in a good performance there against Brentford, but replacing Russell is more of a headache.

The team relies heavily on Russell's vision and playmaking skills and there is no ready-made replacement in the wings, so Roy McFarland acknowledges that he will have to step up his search for another midfielder of that ilk.

McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News: "I have been trying to bring in another player of that nature in Neil MacKenzie, of Stoke, but sadly that deal seems dead now. I'm pursuing other things, but it's not possible at this stage to predict how they will turn out."

McFarland and Scott Eustace have been ordered to pay £350 and Neil Mustoe must pay £250 and serve a one match ban. Referee Kevin Lynch reported them for "offensive" remarks made to him in the corridor after the 4-2 defeat at Saltergate. He awarded two controversial penalties against United in that game and was standing outside the dressing rooms as United's players came off the pitch, which is when McFarland told him to go to his room and Eustace and Mustoe are understood to have added their own comments.

This is described as the harshest disciplinary action in the club's 29-year League history and McFarland says in today's Cambridge Evening News that he will not pay the fine unless he gets a full explanation of the reasons why.

He told the CEN, "I'm not paying the fine unless I get a full explanation of the FA's ruling, particularly their view of the referee's behaviour on the day. I believe he was insensitive to the point of being provocative in what was a very heated situation.

"All I've been able to do is send a written account to the FA, when I think there should have been a hearing involving all parties. The punishment meted out is unjust, not only because of the way it seemed to ignore my explanation, but also my record in the sport as far as discipline is concerned.

"Over the last two years Cambridge United have been the best behaved team in the country. We won the PFA award the season before last and the League award last season. That should count for something.

"I am the first to agree referees have a very tough job, and I have always spoken up for them. But the best are the ones who can act with common sense in heat-of-the-moment situations. And that didn't happen on this occasion. Yes I swore at the referee when I told him to get into his room, but that's not unusual in football when passions are high.

"I couldn't believe it when I came off the pitch after a game like that and saw him standing in the corridor outside our changing room. There was no reason for it, it was stupid, and asking for trouble from angry and frustrated players."

McFarland was set to make his appeal to the FA today, despite there being no formal mechanism for an appeal against a ruling of this nature, and he and the players risk heavier fines and suspensions if they refuse to accept the committee's decision.

The managers' post match comments on Saturday were interesting to compare, with Ron Noades' widely-reported "I'm looking forward to going to Luton next week. We'll be able to play some football." carrying more than a hint of sour grapes after he saw his side pegged back.

McFarland countered with: "You have to take what Ron Noades says with a pinch of salt. You don't know if he is talking as a manager or club owner. He might like to look at his team's goals, which came from long balls." He also paid tribute to the crowd, "Trevor's shot for the goal - I think the crowd at the Newmarket Road end sucked that into the net."

McFarland revealed after Saturday's game that in his search for a powerful centre half who is dominant in the air he tried to sign Macclesfield's distinctive Efetobore Sodje, but could not agree personal terms with the player.

He also admitted that skipper Paul Wanless had been struggling with illness all week, hence his substitution late in the game, while Alex Russell picked up a thigh injury in training on Friday and could be missing for up to three weeks. The team has been heavily reliant on Russell for his creativity and this enforced absence may well mean McFarland has to step up his search for another play-making midfielder. Scottish midfielder Johnny Walker, who played for the reserves last week, could be one option.

Youth team boss Dale Brooks picked first year trainee Owen Painter as his man of the match after Saturday morning's 2-0 win against Walsall.

The midfielder has been missing for six months with a knee injury but starred on his return, and Brooks told the Cambridge Evening News, "That was one of the most pleasing aspects of the game, as was the return of Daniel Chillingworth after a head injury.

"Both our goals came from midfield players, and we have been working on getting midfield players into the box, so it was just reward for them. It was a good performance -- 2-0 flattered Walsall to an extent."

In today's Sport First he says, "We showed great character to come back, and the performance, especially in the second half, was good enough to win again, but you aren't going to do it if you hand out goals like we did in the first 20 minutes."

The player-coach was thought unlikely to be involved at all but reported to the ground on Saturday to say the attack was easing and he could probably come on for a short time if required as a substitute. As McFarland explained: "He is a player who can turn a game in a moment, so it was worth taking some risk to have him on the bench."

He added that Marc Joseph has earned a recall to the defence at the expense of Scott Eustace:

"Marc is getting back to his best now after injury. He was always a step behind the rest during pre-season, but showed at Wigan, apart from one howler, and in the reserves this week, that he is back on par with everybody now."

The 22-year-old defender's strengths are his pace and his long throws which add an extra dimension to United's play in the final third.

Speaking of the match in yesterday's exclusive "On The Spot" and in tomorrow's match programme, McFarland plays down use of the word 'revenge' but told the CEN that he has reminded the players that they dominated much of the play against Brentford in both games last season, but each time went down to 1-0 defeats.

"They were the team who stopped us winning the title," he said. "so that's an added incentive. We've done a lot of work on the psychological side with the players this week after the Stoke defeat. We had a target of nine points from the four September matches, and now that means taking full points from three games."

Of the sides promoted from Division Three last season, big-spending Brentford have unsurprisingly made the best start to life in Division Two and are so far unbeaten. In fact they have gone 20 League games without defeat and are ninth in the table, although May's match winner Lloyd Owusu faces a fitness test on an ankle injury.

U's assistant secretary Mark Johnson reports that trialist Rob Miller has signed non-contract terms today, but not in time for the former West Ham and Coventry right-back to be involved tomorrow. Fellow trialist Mark Graham has not, which means he can still train with United but not play games.

Adam Wilde, the young winger released by United last month, has spoken of his fresh start at Cambridge City.

Wilde (pictured left) revealed that United's coaches kept telling him to improve the defensive side of his game, but added "It wasn't something I could improve because I never knew how to do it and they never taught me."

He told the Cambridge Evening News, "I had thought I was doing all right at United. I was in the first team squad, but halfway through last season, things stopped going right for me. I didn't think I was getting a chance when I thought I was worth a squad place, but that's all history now. I'm just glad to have had the experience of being in a League team.

"Sometimes in life you have to go back to go forward. United gave me a chance, but I'm not thinking about them now. I'm concentrating on doing my best for City."

The Bees beat United in last season's Championship decider on the final day, but McFarland said, "I think we had the chance to win the Championship and we didn't do it. Our objective last season was to achieve promotion, and we did that. It would have been nice for the players and supporters to have won the game and thus the championship. It just so happened it was against Brentford. People have said this is a 'revenge' match and that sort of thing, but I don't think that."

Read more of McFarland's comments here.

Reserve team manager John Taylor could not throw any light on why his team was given a penalty against Wycombe yesterday afternoon. Teenager Nathan Lamey was awarded the penalty and scored from the spot, but Taylor told today's Cambridge Evening News:

"Nathan was challenging for a ball in the box with the centre-half, it was 50-50 stuff, but the referee gave us a penalty," said Taylor (right). "The goals will be a big confidence booster for Nathan. He's only 19 and looks quite useful. We'll be having a longer look at him."

Lamey, who came off the bench to strike a superb curling shot against Bolton Wanderers in pre-season, went on to score again to ensure a 2-0 win that pleased Taylor: "It was a good all-round display. Marc Joseph was dominant at the back, organising the defence very well."

After the way Joseph was dropped after a good display at Wigan and his replacement Scott Eustace turned in an uncertain performance against Stoke, yesterday's performance could earn a first-team recall for the 22-year-old against Brentford. However young forward Tom Youngs may have to drop out of the squad after suffering concussion after a clash of heads early in the reserve game.

Cambridge United Supporters Association chairman Brian Attmore has issued an urgent appeal to all Cambridge United supporters who live in the City of Cambridge.

Brian writes:

The Cambridge United Supporters’Association (CUSA) are appealing to all fans who live in the City of Cambridge to contact their ward councillors on the urgent matter of securing their support for the Club's planning application. The application is due to be considered by the City Council's Planning Sub-Committee at a forthcoming meeting, probably in October.

It is becoming increasingly evident that the Lib Dems on the committee are seriously considering voting against these vital plans and have publicly stated that they support the allotment holders on this issue. The political balance of the Planning Sub-CommittEe is very even and any absence from the voting due to holidays or sickness etc could cause it to be referred to the full Council or lost. Any delay or defeat would seriously weaken our good case.

If one of your ward councillors is a Lib Dem on this Sub-Committee it is doubly important that you contact them as they are letting you down by not representing their constituents. Let them know your views stressing the many benefits of the proposed scheme.

It is apparent that they do not expect it to be passed by the DETR and if so this is APPALLING as this has nothing to do with the planning criteria that they are supposed to be judging it on. There is also evidence that even if passed it may not even have to go to the government anyway.

CUFC Director Gary Harwood has asked that ALL FANS RESIDENT IN CAMBRIDGE let your Councillor "know your views in no uncertain manner and inform him/her how you would vote in the future if Lib Dems voted against the application."

To assist fans in knowing who to contact either in person, in writing or by e-mail (using their name@cambridge.gov.uk eg john.hipkin@cambridge.gov.uk) the following is a list of councillors on the committee, plus you can see a list of the full council members at http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/whoweare/members.htm.

Please contact me on thecusa@btinternet.com if you require any more assistance. Many thanks. Brian Attmore Chairman CUSA

Planning Sub-Committee Councillors:-

Chairperson Lab - Petersfield Ward - Kevin Blencowe The Flat, 1 Gresham Road, Cambridge CB1 2EP
Vice-Chair - Lab - Cherry Hinton - Robert Dryden 23 Wenvoe Close Cherry Hinton Cambridge CB1 4JG
Lab - Kings Hedges - Peter Cowell 41 Nuns Way Cambridge CB4 2LU
Lib Dem - West Chesterton - Gaynor Griffiths 232 Histon Road Cambridge
Lib Dem - Newnham - Nichola Harrison 3 Perry Court, Clerk Maxwell Road Cambridge CB3 0RS
Lib Dem - Castle - John Hipkin 15 Oxford Road Cambridge CB4 3PH
Lab - Abbey - Mungai Mbaya 23 Malcolm Place Cambridge CB1 1LS
Lib Dem Spokesperson North - West Chesterton - Ian Nimmo-Smith 201 Chesterton Road Cambridge CB4 1AH
Lab - Newnham - Gill Richardson 25 Halifax Road Cambridge CB4 3QB
Lib Dem Spokesperson South - Trumpington - Phillipa Slatter 82 Shelford Road Trumpington Cambridge CB2 2NF
Lib Dem - Romsey - Catherine Smart 136 Ross Street Cambridge CB1 3BU
Lab - Arbury - Patricia Wright 49 Norfolk Terrace Cambridge CB1 2NG

The CUSA appeal comes in the wake of an article in today's Cambridge Evening News, which reports that:

Liberal Democrats have accused the city council of pandering to Cambridge United football club over its proposals to turf allotment holders off their land.

The Lib Dems have lent their support to allotment holders in Whitehill Road whose plots could make way if United's plans to expand the Abbey Stadium get the green light.

Coun Amanda Taylor, the Lib Dem leisure spokeswoman, said the council should be doing more to promote its allotments.

She said: "The council seems to steam ahead with decisions on allotment land regardless of the views of allotment holders. The stubborn insistence of selling allotment land for more football seats is a case in point.

"Since the club fails to fill its ground at present, we feel that this is unnecessary."

She added: "The council has a responsibility to promote the allotments, yet Labour city councillors seem to be more interested in satisfying the football club than in getting more people to take up allotments."

It was the reserve side's first win of the season following defeats by Swindon Town and Oxford United, and there were two trialist midfielders on show. 25-year-old Scot Johnny Walker is described as a good passer of the ball and was surprisingly released last season by Mansfield after recovering from injury problems, and Brian Vaugh is a 20-year-old left-sided midfielder from Northern Ireland, formerly a regular in Celtic's reserves.

Cambridge United Reserves: Shaun Marshall, Rob Miller, Jamie Cassidy, Dean Armstrong, Martin McNeil, Marc Joseph, Mark Graham, Johnny Walker, Tom Youngs, Andrew Ingham, Brian Vaugh.
Subs: Darren Cockrill, Larry McAvoy, Nathan Lamey, Leighton Hill, Adam Tann.

Wycombe Wanderers Reserves: Mark Westhead, Gary Wright, Chris Vinnicombe, Jason Cousins, Mark Rogers, Martin Lee, Dannie Bulman, Lee Holsgrove, Maurice Harkin, Paul Emblen, Danny Senda.
Subs: Richard Thompson, Eddie Gray, Nicky Leach, Mark Osborn.

The youth development staff were understandably delighted to see Adam Tann make his Under Under-18 debut last night, while the lad himself shrugged off the less than friendly welcome from a few Posh supporters.

Tann was boo-ed onto the pitch in the 75th minute when he replaced West Ham's Ezomo Iriekpen and became the first United player to win an England youth cap since Dean Greygoose 16 years ago, but he told the Cambridge Evening News, "Running on with the white shirt on was amazing. I'll never forget how it felt.

"The crowd reaction didn't bother me, I wouldn't have expected much else as a United player at Peterborough.

"We were losing 1-0, so as a defender I wasn't really expecting to get on. But I went on at right-back, and was able to make a few forward runs. Now I've got my fingers crossed I'll stay in when they reduce the squad from 20 to 18 for a mini tournament later in the year."

Youth Development Officer Ricky Martin (right) commented, "It was great to see Adam run out in an England shirt. He was one of three defenders among the substitutes and the only one used in the game, which is something he can be proud of. He looked comfortable and confident, and just enjoyed the whole thing.

Afternoon
The Cambridge Evening News has confirmed the details of the contract Adam Tann signed last week. The 17-year-old, who is in the 20-man England Under-18 squad to face Switzerland tonight, has agreed a three year deal that guarantees him a two year professional contract once his three year scholarship runs out at the end of this season.

Youth team boss Dale Brooks (pictured left) told the CEN: "Adam has earned the contract with his commitment and the quality of his play generally, not just because he's been selected for England. That's a tremendous boost for him though, as well as for the other youth players and the whole club. It shows the players what can be achieved, even though they might not be at one of the big clubs.

"I don't think the team for tonight's match will be announced until just before the kick-off, and it's probably unlikely Adam will be in the starting line-up in his first time in the squad. But being a part of a squad of that calibre, and training with the other best players in the country at that age, is marvellous for him. The squad is packed with youngsters from the Premiership, and that's a great compliment for Adam."

Tann was kept out of the youth team side that lost to WBA at Lilleshall on Saturday to ensure that he was fit to join up with the England party, and he may well join up with the senior side sooner rather than later.

Roy McFarland commented, "I was going to take Adam with us to Wigan to get a taste of what it's like with the first team, but we decided to leave it until after the England game. Martin McNeil had a spell in our first team last season when we had injuries, and I believe it can do youngsters a lot of good to get an early look at League football.

"If he continues to make progress at this rate, it won't be too long before he'll be putting a bit of pressure on the older players. The thing about him is that, as well as centre-back, he could play at full-back, or even as a defensive midfielder."

The England Under-18 friendly against Switzerland takes place at Peterborough United's London Road stadium tonight (kick-off 7.45pm). The team is likely to feature youngsters like West Ham's Joe Cole and Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, who have already made their Premiership debuts, while West Ham goalkeeper Stephen Bywater trained with Kevin Keegan's full England squad last week.

"We've played six League games and we've seen that Division Two is 20 per cent quicker, and about 15 per cent more skillful than Division Three," he said today. "We have matched that at times, but we have to do it consistently. The main improvement we need is in our level of concentration.

"We were caught by a very clever free kick against Stoke. It looked like a shot was on, but the lad bent it to the far post. We didn't get a touch and you have to be aware of every option in that situation. Looking at the six games, and the two against Bristol City in the Worthington Cup, I believe we have a squad capable of living with this level of football. But it takes time to adapt."

Saturday was the first home defeat of the season and was especially disappointing as it came on the heels of two creditable 1-1 draws with table-toppers Notts County and Wigan.

Preece added, "We haven't had the results we'd want, but Roy and myself have been quite happy with a lot of the performances. We went to Wigan and matched them, and on Saturday if we'd have got the next goal after the equaliser I'm sure we'd have won.

"But in this division, due to a large extent to the Bosman ruling, we are seeing players like Stoke's Thorne and Lightbourne, who a few years ago would have been in Division One or the Premiership. And when they get a chance they hurt you."

He also revealed that the players will watch a video of the Stoke game this week, something that they have not done for a while: "You can speak to players about incidents which flash past them in a game, and sometimes you need to let them see the match from another angle."

Meanwhile Blackburn Rovers have denied any interest in striker Trevor Benjamin, and the CEN reports that Roy McFarland has had talks with a higher division club about a midfielder, but does not expect any breakthrough in the immediate future.

In today's Sport First he says, "We chucked it away when we worked so hard for at least a point. I would have been disappointed with the draw, but to lose was astonishing.

"It wasn't just poor defending at crucial times which let us down. Our attack must shoulder some of the blame because we got into so many good positions without making the goalkeeper work. We have to learn quickly from this."

In the News of the World he said: "I was disappointed in our first-half performance. We sat back a bit and they caused us quite a few problems. Their second goal was poor and to lose it from a set piece was disappointing. The front three played well but they didn't get enough service in the first half. And when the ball went in the box, we didn't finish the way I know we can."

Meanwhile the latest transfer rumour comes from the Sunday People online, who claim: