HEREFORD striker James Roberts caught the eye of England C international manager Paul Fairclough.

The 22-year-old striker scored from the penalty spot during the Herefordshire XI 2-2 draw with an FA XI managed by Fairclough.

When asked if there was any players who caught his eye as England C team manager Fairclough said: “Obviously there is a big step to the England C team but I would say there is a good three or four who have planted seeds in my head for the future.

“Perhaps not for the immediate future but for the future simply because of their age. I was very impressed with Roberts, he certainly caught by eye especially in the first half.

“I thought he tired in the second half but I thought he was a real handful for our young defenders. He caught my eye.

“There were some great players on the Herefordshire side with great experience, said Fairclough.

“(Ryan) Green at the back was outstanding, it took years off him that game and I think he will pay for it tomorrow.

“Anybody who was here would have thoroughly been entertained tonight. What Rob Purdie has done is get a team together to played like a team who have played together for a long time.”

Herefordshire XI were managed by Hereford legend Purdie, who was also impressed by the performance of forward Roberts.

"I thought James was a different class today as was Sam Gwynne and Sam Rawlings was the stand out ones for me," Purdie added.

"James didn't stop going and was a threat, he has had a lot of compliments off Paul Fairclough as well.

"He (Fairclough) called me over to ask who he (Roberts) was and the other two boys were all different class.

"I said before the game you never know who will be watching and I’m sure there would have been some scouts here and even though they are probably looking at the England players I said to make sure it’s your name that they are talking about.

“There are probably two or three players who will definitely be spoken about after tonight. 

"He (Paul Fairclough) said he would take James any day of the week talking about the actual England C side so you know some of them might get a chance. 

"I've watched James play two or three times this season and his work rate is always there and today his quality was very good, his determination, his strong powerful runs, I thought he was a different class."