Hot-shot Alex Harrison hopes his England call up will be a stepping stone to a professional career.

The 18-year-old striker from Eastbourne will be touring America with the English Schools' under-18s squad next week before playing in the Home Internationals for the Victory Shield.

Youth In Action exclusively broke the news of his inclusion in last Saturday's editions, but today he reveals how he wants to take advantage of the selection.

Harrison, who claims 327 goals in 232 games from the age of 12, said: "It is an unbelievable feeling to be chosen for England.

"I still can't believe I'll be jetting off to the States from Gatwick to represent my country. Playing for England should be a fantastic experience with matches played at places like Molineux and the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.

"So far my England call-up is my greatest achievement but I am aiming to build on it.

"A couple of years ago I set a couple of goals. The first was to be selected for England Schools and the second to play league football.

"I desperately want to play the game for a living and playing for England would put me in the shop window.

"I am a natural goalscorer but there is a lot more to my game thanks to the hard work I've put in over the last couple of years.

"There will be plenty of games to make an impression because other matches on top of the Shield and America trip are scheduled.

"I want to show just what I can do and that I am worth signing on. I've learned a lot.

"I'm not looking for a third year YTS deal, I want a professional contract and England provides me with a stage to try and achieve that."

Harrison is well versed in the school of hard knocks.

"I was with Portsmouth at their centre of excellence for two-and-a-half years. I was their leading scorer by a mile. Originally they were going to take me on as a youth player. I was in the original nine chosen, but they only took six in the end. I was gutted.

"There were two directions I could have gone in after that. One would have been to get down and give up. The other was to carry on.

"I wanted to be the best I could and use the Portsmouth experience as a positive. I now want to show them that they missed out and shove the fact in their face."

Harrison has also had trials with Cardiff and Bristol City.

"I scored in a trial game for Cardiff but it didn't work out. I went to Bristol for a week and it went well. But there was nothing definite and an opportunity came up to go to a college which specialised in football where I could learn the game, get an education, and have another shot at being a professional later on."

Then third division Rushden and Diamonds appeared on the scene.

"I had a trial with them against the Crystal Palace team which played in the FA Youth Cup and I managed to score in a 3-2 defeat. Then the England trials came up.

"I've taken chances but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that pulling on my country's shirt will work out for me."

Harrison, who played for British Colleges last year, believes joining the Bury Football School linked with B Tec studies at West Suffolk College have helped.

"My back to goal technique has definitely improved and I am stronger mentally. I've also had some success with them. I scored the winning goal in the English Schools and Colleges Cup final at the Hawthorns last season."

He is grateful to the Sussex Schools Football Association too.

"They gave me a chance with the county teams and I was in the under-16s team which won the national cup.

I owe them a lot too. I scored my best ever goal for them in an inter-county regional semi-final against Bedfordshire. It was bit like Gazza's goal against Scotland in Euro 96 except I was further out. I lobbed the ball over a guy's head and hit it from 25 to 30 yards.

He is also indebted to the support of mum Wendy and dad Graham.

"They've always encouraged me from when I started out with Polegate Grasshoppers. My dad has kept a detailed record of my goals!

"But they haven't seen me play much this season.

"Yet they will be in Belfast on February 22 when I hope to make my Victory Shield debut against Northern Ireland. They'd better be there!"

Who knows where it will all lead for Harrison.

Albion haven't figured in his plans yet. He added: "I think Albion felt that when I was with Portsmouth they didn't have a shout about it."

But that might change now with Harrison on the lookout to secure his professional future while flying the flag.

At least the Seagulls will be able to have a close look at him as centre of excellence coach Vic Bragg, a Sussex teacher, is assistant manager of the English Schools' under-18s. Watch this space.