Mansfield Town’s youth team striker Zayn Hakeem has been called up to represent Antigua and Barbuda U20s.

The 17-year-old has already appeared in the Stags’ first-team squad this season, coming on as a substitute in an EFL Cup match at home to Blackburn Rovers.

He will fly out to the Caribbean on 1th9 October and is expected to be in the squad to face Curacao, St. Kitts & Nevis and Bermuda in FIFA World Cup 2017 qualifiers/CFU Finals Group A. The tournament will finish on 30 October.

Hakeem’s impressive form from last season has continued into this campaign, with the teenager netting four league goals for the Stags’ youngsters who currently sit top of EFL Youth Alliance North East Division.

The call-up highlights another positive step in the academy’s development, spearheaded by youth team manager John Dempster.

In midweek 17-year-old Tom Marriott made his senior debut in the Checkatrade Trophy, in Stags’ 1-0 win against Port Vale.

Meanwhile, defender Alex Iacovitti, made his Scotland U21 debut on Wednesday night, in a 2-0 defeat to Iceland.