Ashley Jackson has capped a tremendous 12 months by being named young player of the year by the Hockey Writers Club.

The East Grinstead teenager, who made his England B debut in November, will collect the prestigious Higgins Group Youth Hockey Award at a ceremony in London in ten days time.

Jackson, 18, has been a key part of Grinstead's climb back to the top flight of English hockey, scoring 12 goals from midfield last season as they achieved promotion for the second time in as many years.

Having joined Grinstead four years ago, he won England under-16 honours in 2003 and was called into the under-21 squad last season for a four-nations event in Poland where the squad finished second with Jackson scoring four goals, including a hat-trick against the hosts.

Further appearances came against the Wales senior side and two tests against Holland before Jackson was named in the squad for the Under-21 World Cup where he helped England finish eighth and scored another four goals in the process.

More progress came with an appearance for England B against Ireland in November and he has trained with the full England squad ahead of the Commonwealth Games selection.

The Higgins Awards, introduced by the late Derek Higgins in December 2004, recognise the outstanding boy and girl in British hockey aged 18 and under. Nikki Kidd, a Scotland under-21 international, has won the girls' prize.

East Grinstead manager Matt Jones said:

"Ashley is one of the key parts of the team we have been assembling here and his maturity belies his years.

"His flair and unpredictability on the pitch in parallel with his professional attitude has made him as comprehensive and as rounded a player you could want for his age.

"We are hoping for big things from him and we expect him to be part of the full England squad in the not too distant future."

Grinstead were playing two divisions below the top flight when Jackson first broke into the team as a 16-year-old but Jones never had any doubts he would be able to make the jump to premier division hockey.

Jackson has been guided by Kwan Browne, a Grinstead team-mate and former player-coach who took the youngster under his wing.

Browne, the Trinidad and Tobago international captain who is regarded as one of the best players around, has also helped Jackson perfect the drag-flick short corner.

The learning process has continued this season under Jones and new player-coach Mark Pearn.

Jones said: "Before the season had started he had shown he was a cut above the rest and we anticipated him relishing the opportunity to perform at the top level.

"He loves performing under pressure, he has relished the challenge and he has come up above my expectations.

"He is by no means the finished article but he is learning quickly.

"He is still at a relatively delicate stage in his development in terms of hockey. We are very mindful of that and will give him all the support we can to help him achieve his goals as well as him helping us to achieve our goals."

Jackson has also played his part in helping Grinstead reach the finals of the National Indoor Championships, which will be staged at the National Arena Indoor in Birmingham next Sunday, live on Sky Sports television.

He had not played indoor hockey, a different game to the outdoor version, before this season but has adapted well and scored a hatful of goals in the qualifying competition.

Jones said: "Ashley is very driven, very focused. He doesnt drink, he doesnt smoke, he just wants to play and practise hockey all the time."