The 12-year-old is looking to net a place in the team which will represent England in a major international football tournament in France later this year.

Backed by French footy legend Zinedine Zidane, the Danone Nations Cup will culminate in a final at the famed Parc des Princes stadium in front of thousands of fans.

Oliver is among 84 youngsters who have made it through to the last set of trials for the competition's England side.

They took place at London's Crystal Palace sports complex under the watchful eye of Team England's head coach, ex-Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp.

And Oliver's proud family is keeping its fingers crossed that their son will be in good enough form to clinch a place in Redknapp's 14-strong squad.

Oliver's mum, Joanne, 41, said: "He's got a lot of pace so hopefully he'll stand out from the crowd. We'll be chuffed to bits for him if he does it."

Oliver is a pupil at Priesthorpe School.

He was picked for the Crystal Palace get-together after impressing in a
regional trial at Leeds's John Charles Centre for Sport.

Now in its eighth year, the Danone Nations Cup is being held in September and will feature sides from 40 countries.

Its sponsor, Danone, is one of the world's biggest dairy product and bottled water companies.