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17-year-old Jersey football star Luke Harris is on his way to Qatar for the World Cup after being selected as a back-up on the Wales squad.
Hot on the heels of signing a professional contract with Fulham, former St. Clement pupil Harris, whose father is Welsh, was asked to join the national team in September.
While he made the bench for a game against Belgium, he is yet to see action on the pitch for Wales.
Manager Robert Page told BBC Sport that his intention in adding Harris to the squad was to help him gain experience of a major tournament, alongside 18-year-old Jordan James, and help futureproof the Welsh side.
He said the team had been “really impressed” with the pair during the Nations League camp in September, adding: “…In the future when the senior boys decide they’re not going to play for Wales anymore, it won’t be too much of a culture shock and the change won’t be so severe,” he said.
“…They’re not going to be in the 26, but for them to travel with the squad, see how they conduct themselves on and off the pitch, is going to be massive for us moving forward.”
The young midfielder’s footballing career started in Jersey.
Harris played a key role in the St. Clement’s Primary School team, leading them to become the first Jersey side to win the Danone Nations Cup in 2016 at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, before joining the Fulham Academy.
Pictured: Harris celebrating a major win with his former primary school team, St. Clement's.
The academy has a strong reputation for nurturing and growing young talent, with Liverpool players Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho among its alumni.
A recent article by The Athletic described Harris - who was last month reportedly being eyed up by Chelsea - as “following in the…footsteps” of the latter as “Fulham’s next big thing.”
He made his Premier League debut last month, describing it as a "special night" on Twitter.
Special night ???????? what a feeling making my @premierleague debut! pic.twitter.com/N63ShQgJxR
— lukeharris (@lukeharris2005) October 21, 2022
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Pictured top: Wales' Luke Harris during a training session ahead of the 2022 Nations Leage fixture against Poland at Cardiff City Stadium on 25 September. (John Smith/FAW)
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