Alex Harrison is ready to captain his country on Friday.

He hopes to be wearing the armband when English Schools under-18s face Northern Ireland in the Centenary Shield at The Oval, Glentoran.

The 18-year-old striker, from Eastbourne, successfully captained the side during a three-match tour to the United States .

Harrison said: "I feel pleased with the way things went for me in America and am confident I will lead my country out against Ireland.

"It is the best feeling in the world to captain your country. I don't think I've got words to describe just how much it means to me.

"I was so proud and to get my first cap and to lead out my country would be unbelievable. My mum and dad (Wendy and Graham) should be there with other people from Sussex. It will be quite an emotional occasion.

"I'm also looking forward to playing Wales and Scotland and making sure we bring home the Centenary Shield."

Harrison put his own name forward for the captain's role He said: "I am naturally a loud person and talk my way through a match. There was only one other player like that, a centre-half, but he didn't make the final squad. I told the management that I would love to to be captain, even though I'd never been one before, going back to youth football with Polegate."

Harrison led the team to a win and two draws in America and scored three goals.

He captained England in a 1-1 draw against Pembroke University under-23s in North Carolina at Lumberton.

At Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, he skippered England to a 9-0 triumph against Carolina High Schools Select under-18s and a 2-2 draw with Coastal University under-23s.

Harrison said: "The pitch for the first match was hard and bumpy but the second pitch was the best I've played on. I scored early on and then made four. I felt it was about time my team-mates laid on a second for me and they did.

"The third game was our most difficult and we went 1-0 down. I got an equaliser and then we went in front. They took me off for a rest at the beginning of the second half and unfortunately we conceded a penalty from which our opponents equalised."

Luke Sadler, who taught Alex PE at Willingdon Community College, said: "We're delighted and proud of him. We will phone his parents to tell them so. It is a great achievement to be selected for your country let alone be captain.

"He represented the school in all sorts of sports. Alex was an inspirational figure on and off the field. Alex had a real passion for sport and a sensible, mature approach. He was adaptable too."

England assistant manager Vic Bragg, an Albion centre of excellence coach, said: "Harrison has a very good chance to be skipper on Friday.

"We are looking for a leader on and off the park to set a good standard and not let you down. Alex showed he had those qualities in America. He's a good, genuine lad."