TWTD understands that academy central defender Tommy Smith has put pen to paper on a three-year professional contract. Smith looks likely to make his first steps into the first team during the new season.

The 17-year-old has also been named in the England squad for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Korea next month. Town striker Jordan Rhodes was also included in the provisional squad but has been left out of the final 21-man travelling party.

England face North Korea, New Zealand and Brazil in the group stages of the competition, which runs from 18th August to 9th September.

Macclesfield-born Smith, who turned down the chance to play for New Zealand, the country where he grew up, has previously won five caps at U17 level.

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