ENGLAND'S Under 21 selectors should spend an afternoon at the County Ground to check out the progress of young defender Andy Nicholas.

That is the view of Town boss Andy King as he prepares for Saturday's clash with fellow play-off hopefuls Colchester United.

Nicholas has 'blossomed' in his manager's words and, King feels the former Liverpool scholar should at least be observed by someone with three lions on their tracksuit.

He said: "Nicholas came in as a quiet young lad but he has just blossomed in training and on the pitch. He has just grown and grown in stature.

"If I was to negotiate with him about the contract situation I'd have to look at putting things in about international caps and the under 21s.

"I think the kid deserves to be looked at by the international powers that be. He's done that well.

"He's quick and left-footed and there aren't too many of that type about.

"The boy is improving every week and if he carries on in that vein and keeps displaying the attitude and consistency we see at present, then I don't see why he shouldn't be looked at.

"At this moment in time he's as good as there is around. There is nothing better in the Second Division.

"At the moment he has the shirt at this football club and it's for him to lose it."

King, who has already broached the subject of new deals with Nicholas and Brian Howard, feels talented youngsters as a whole in Division Two are not getting a fair crack of the international whip.

He said: "Rhys Evans and Brian Howard have both had England recognition but seem to have been bypassed since coming here.

"Players don't get the recognition at this level.

"Young Howard has been overlooked and yet he's playing in my first team every week.

"Yet I've had other Under 21 internationals from Premiership clubs down here who couldn't get in my team.

"Other Premiership kids have gone on loan to clubs lower down and failed to get in that particular team.

"I feel lads at this level are overlooked. I'm not demanding they play and I'm not even saying they're good enough but I think they should at least be looked at.

"It's the same for managers for the most part. If a Premiership job comes up, it's very rare they look at a manager in the Second Division.

"We're all overlooked, players and managers. We're deemed to be not good enough and that's just a load of rubbish."

As King ponders his team selection for the U's clash on Saturday, he will definitely be without skipper Andy Gurney, who starts a two-match ban.

Midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi had further treatment on his groin injury yesterday but a return to first team action against the Essex outfit looks extremely unlikely at this stage.

Town's under 19s travel to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow (kick off 1pm).