Blues' boss Joe Royle is keen for striker Dean Bowditch to be withdrawn from the England U18 match with Belgium at Northampton next Tuesday. Royle fears the 17-year-old is in danger of being over-used.

The Town manager says he will ask England coach Martin Hunter if the Town front man can be left out: "We need to look at the situation carefully and I expect I will be speaking to Martin about Dean in the next couple of days to see how he feels about it."

The Blues are also keen for Bowditch not to be involved with the U18s when they face Sweden in late April.

Saturday's hat-trick hero is also on standby for Tuesday's England U19 match with Germany in Celle.

U18s boss Hunter praised Bowditch after he was named as the FA's Young Lion of the Weekend: "Dean first came into the Team England set-up in October 2001 at the age of 15 and it was clear that he was an exciting prospect.

"As with all young players, it was clear that he had to work on areas of his game and that the mental, as well as the physical, preparations would play an important part of his development.

"This season Dean has really broken into the first team squad at Ipswich and is highly thought of by Joe Royle, where the club are nurturing his talent and bringing him on.

"His exploits on Saturday were not unexpected by those who have worked with Dean, but now he will have new challenges in front of him, as defenders will certainly be more aware of the danger he can cause.

"I am looking forward to linking up with him again in a week's time, where Dean will be then be part of the squad beginning its preparations for next year's UEFA U19 European Championships, where all the players, like Dean, then have the potential to compete and progress through the age groups."

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls