INTERNATIONAL: Fairclough names final England National Game XI squad

Paul Fairclough has named his final 16-man squad for the England National Game XI under-23 friendly against Italy.

The Barnet boss (pictured) has cut his initial 30-man squad by almost half, but has retained three of the players that have helped his Bees side dominate the Nationwide Conference so far this season, defenders Simon King and Ismail Yakubu, and midfielder Dean Sinclair.

The remainder of the squad is comprised of Nationwide Conference players, with the exception of Grays Athletic midfielder Stuart Thurgood, who is the only representative from the Nationwide South.

The game, against players from Italy's Serie C, will take place on November 10th, in Ivrea.

England National Game XI squad:

Goalkeepers: David Stockdale (York City), Nikki Bull (Aldershot)

Defenders: David Perkins (Morecambe), Peter Cavanagh (Accrington Stanley), Chris Blackburn (Morecambe), Simon King (Barnet), Ismail Yakubu (Barnet)

Midfielders: Ian Craney (Accrington Stanley), Dean Sinclair (Barnet), Stuart Thurgood (Grays Athletic), Scott Kerr (Scarborough), Ben Surey (Gravesend & Northfleet)

Strikers: Karl Hawley (Carlisle United), Rob Purdie (Hereford United), Anthony Elding (Stevenage Borough), Andrew Bishop (York City)