Nathan Broadhead from Bangor has been called up to the Wales U21 football squad. The Everton U23 player has been named in the squad to play Liechtenstein next month in a UEFA European Championship Qualifier.

Wales travel to Liechtenstein on October 5 as they look to returning to winning ways, having kicking off the campaign with a superb 3-0 victory over Switzerland last month before a 2-0 defeat against Portugal four days later.

Bangor-born Nathan, 19, joined the Everton’s Academy nine years ago and has progressed through the ranks, enjoying an outstanding campaign for the Under-18s in 2015/16 by being named Player of the Season, finishing top goal scorer, and helping fire the young Blues to the Dallas Cup.

Nathan signed a new professional contract with Everton last season until the end of June 2020, and also breaking through into David Unsworth’s title-winning Everton Under-23s side last season.

Everton U23 coach David Unsworth said: “Nathan has been one of the best Under-18s players in the last two years but it’s a massive jump up to the Under-23s,” he said. “You’re giving away four or five years in terms of the players you’re up against and Nathan has had to be patient when he might have felt that he should have been playing.

“But what he has done is work his socks off every day. He’s lived in the gym and physically he’s grown so he can really compete. Fitness-wise he’s so much better, but also from a tactical point of view, he understands the game a lot more in terms of the demands of senior football.”

WALES U21 SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Luke Pilling (Tranmere Rovers), Owen Evans (Wigan Athletic).

DEFENDERS: Cola Dasilva (Chelsea), Cameron Coxe (Cardiff City), Cian Harries (Swansea City), Regan Poole (Manchester United)*, Aron Davies (Fulham), Rhys Abbruzzese (Cardiff City), Joe Rodon (Swansea City)

MIDFIELDERS: Matthew Smith (Manchester City), Nathan Broadhead (Everton), Jack Evans (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Cardiff City),

FORWARDS: Tyler Roberts (West Bromwich Albion), George Thomas (Leicester City), Daniel James (Swansea City), Rabbi Matondo (Manchester City), Liam Cullen (Swansea City).