Academy keeper Michael Crowe came on as a 59th minute sub as a 10-man Wales U19 side lost 5-1 to Georgia in the opening game of their UEFA European Championships mini-tournament in Tbilisi this morning.

Crowe, who celebrates his 18th birthday today, was introduced after first-choice keeper Billy O’Brien was red-carded.

The Town man’s first task was to pick the ball out of the net after Mate Tsintsadze scored the hosts’ fifth goal from the resultant freekick.

The Blues keeper is now set to start for Geraint Williams’s side in Friday’s game against Holland and their final match against Moldova on Monday.

London-born Crowe, whose father is English and mother Norwegian, joined the Blues in the summer of 2012 from Kristiansand-based side IK Start, having been brought up in Norway. He qualifies for Wales through his grandmother.

The second-year academy scholar signed a two-year professional contract earlier in the season. His only competitive involvement with the Town senior squad so far was a place on the bench at QPR.

Meanwhile, new Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill says he could look to persuade former Blue Connor Wickham to change his international allegiance from England with whom he has won caps at U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels.

The 20-year-old, who played for O'Neill at Sunderland and for his assistant Roy Keane at Town, was born in Hereford but qualifies for both the Republic and Northern Ireland through his father Stefan.

"I don’t think I am in a position at this minute to turn down anything and if someone tells me someone is available, particularly someone I have worked with and might have a chance, I would give it some consideration," O'Neill said.

The 61-year-old says Wickham, who is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, lost his focus following his £8.1 million move from Town to the Black Cats in the summer of 2011: "I worked with Connor at Sunderland.

"Steve Bruce bought him but I thought the price tag concerned him and for a little while I thought being a professional footballer was enough for Connor and at that stage that he liked the lifestyle which was all very new to him.

"But you have to knuckle down and actually have to go and do something. In my latter days at Sunderland it looked as if he was going to come round and wanted to become a professional player."

Photo: Action Images

gmanrom added 13:41 - Nov 13 father is English and mother Norwegian and plays for wales you have to laugh at that.
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bluemikey100 added 13:47 - Nov 13 well done only the freekick conceded then a clean sheet
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BroskiBeen added 14:29 - Nov 13 Bit of a strange one, English dad, Norwegian mum and plays for Wales, bit strange, but well done for making it into the squad, good choice really Wales lack good goalkeepers, Myhill and Hennessey are quite old the U21 Keepers are crap so if he sticks with Wales he could become another Ipswich Regular international player like Smith and Edwards. Gwneud yn dda Crowe.
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