Lucy Bronze, 16, and Lucy Staniforth, 15, both pupils at the Duchess' High School, Alnwick, have been selected in an 18-strong Three Lions U17 squad which is about to embark on a set of crucial World Cup qualifiers in the Czech Republic.

And for midfielder Lucy S the England nod from head coach Lois Fidler bares extra significance as it marks her first international call-up.

She said: "It will be my first cap for England and I am really happy and am so chuffed to be in. I can't believe it."

The girls were selected for the squad after impressing at a special training camp at Bisham Abbey. Thirty girls attended the camp but only 18 were picked for the Prague trip.

The Three Lions call-up will see the girls clash against their Czech hosts, as well as Belgium and Holland, in what is one of four European groups in the second round draw for World Cup qualification.

Only the winner of the group will continue in the quest to reach October's inaugural U17 World Cup Finals in New Zealand.

The journey continues in May with the winners of each European group meeting in Switzerland for a final tournament.

The top three finishers will then book their ticket to the finals.

But England can be confident of qualification after easing through the first round group stage with three straight wins against Georgia, Slovakia and Russia.

Lucy B, who started twice as full-back during England's first round campaign and boasts a string of international call-ups, said: "I'm really excited. I've played against Holland before, it will be hard but I think we can beat them. I'm pretty confident we will get through."

The girls will travel to Reading tomorrow before flying out to Prague on Saturday.

It is just the latest chapter in their sporting story.

Both the girls are members of the Sunderland Women's Academy while Lucy B is a regular for Sunderland Ladies first team.

Having been signed from Sunderland's Centre of Excellence, she has impressed this season scoring five goals including efforts against Aston Villa and Birmingham.

She also won the Junior Achievement gong at this year's Alnwick and District Sports Awards while both girls were part of the Duchess's High School team which became Under 18 Northumberland League champions and scooped the Junior Team trophy at the February award ceremony.

Both attended North Carolina Girls' Soccer Camp last summer and, after impressing USA women's coach Anson Dorance, will return this summer.