England star progressing

6:24am Monday 11th February 2008

PROMISING prop Adam Neal was a surprise presence on Wolves' 2008 team picture.

Neal is not yet part of the first-team squad but figured in three of the club's pre-season friendlies and travelled to Lanzarote for the pre-season training camp after starring for England under 17s against the Australian Institute of Sport in November.

The 17-year-old, born in Salford in 1990 and the youngest member of Wolves' official under 18s squad for 2007, is a former Crosfields junior and Paul Cullen has not ruled out a progression to the first-team squad in the near future.

"You never know," said Cullen. "Adam was the only player in his age group to play for England under 17s before Christmas.

"He was rewarded with a trip to Lanzarote and has been involved with the first team since he came back from the England under 17s.

"He will start the season in the under 21s (reserves) with a few more of our under 18s and then we will see how the season goes for him."