UNIVERSITY of Bolton student Joel Amado has been selected for the English Universities’ football squad.

Amado, aged 20, will take part in a Home Nations tournament between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in Cardiff next month.

The defender, who was born in Portugal and moved to the UK when he was nine years old, said of his call-up: "It is a big opportunity to be able to play for UK universities. I am really looking forward to it.”

Amado combines his football with studying for a sports rehabilitation degree at Bolton.

Living in Salford, he plays left-back and has turned out for a number of teams in Greater Manchester, most recently Trafford.

Mollie Percival, part-time sports, health and physical activity officer at the University of Bolton, said: “This is only the university sports centre’s second year of running the club sports programme, so it is great news that one of our club sports players has been selected for the English Universities squad.

“Joel has been a valued player this year and we wish him every success.”