International recognition for players in the club's Academy continued this week after two players returned from England duty.
Advanced midfielders Billy Mardell-Smith (pictured below) and Reimeiro Moulton (pictured at bottom), both 14, spent three days with the England Under-15 squad at the national training base in St George's Park over the weekend.
Moulton lives in Stevenage and signed for the club at the age of 12 after a spell at Arsenal, while St Albans-based Mardell-Smith has been with the Hornets since the age of nine. They were called up by England Under-15 coach Lee Skyrme for a talent identification camp.
“They are both similar in terms of their position and attitude,” said Armand Kavaja (pictured at top), the Lead Phase Coach for the Under-15s and 16s. “Billy has a great attitude, is really focused and works hard. He is really tidy and efficient technically and can play as a No.8 or a No.10. We haven't picked his best position yet but that will come. He gets in very good positions and is a clever and intelligent player.
“Remeiro has a similar character and is just as hard working. He is a bit more physically developed than Billy and dominates in the one-v-one. He is very clever and combines well with the forward players. Again, he can play 10 or eight and works box to box.”
The double call-up adds to others this year for Tomas Gálvez (Finland), George Abbott (England & Wales), James Debayo (England), Bosun Lawal (Republic Ireland), Ryan Cassidy (Republic Ireland), JJ McKiernan (Northern Ireland), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (Scotland), Freddie Taylor (Wales), Jordan Harrison (Australia) and Erion Zabeli (Albania).
“It's great recognition for the Academy,” said Kavaja. “It's recognition for the coaching, the recruitment and the scouting. We've got a bit of a conveyor belt of talent right now and they all want to learn and listen.”
