Everton supplied three members of the England U-18 squad to face France in
January 98. Jamie Milligan and Franny Jeffers already had U-18 caps but it
was a first call-up for Carl Regan, another member of last year's victorious
FA Youth Cup team.
Carl's elevation to the England U-18 team marks another milestone for the
versatile right back. After signing a two-year extension to his Everton contract
earlier this season, his performances for the youth team have pushed him
to fringes of a first-team call-up.
Regan said: "It's a great boost for me. I found out this morning that I was
being included in the squad after previously being on stand-by. I'm quite
pleased with my progress. I've signed a new contract this season and I've
been involved with the first team twice, against Ipswich and West Ham."
"I think I've come on over the last few months. I know I've still got an
awful lot to learn but it would be good if I could get in the first 16 for
a match before the end of the season."
Regan was a member of the youth team that humbled Swindon Town in an
FA Youth Cup fourth round replay,
and was became a solid member of the Reserves team in the 1998-99 season.
He started the 1999-2000 season on the edge of the first-team squad.
But, despite being a centre-back, he appears to have fallen victim to
Walter Smith's obvious lack of enthusiasm for playing the youngsters, and he
never even made it on to the first team bench. As
if to confirm Smith's lack of faith, Regan turned down a
new contract in May 2000, and then signed a deal with
Barnsley, for an initial "nominal" fee in the
region of £25,000. At least he should now get
some first-team football.
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