Alan Devonshire is certain that Dan Sparkes will get his England chance.

The Braintree Town manager was “gutted” for his midfielder after an ankle injury picked up in last weekend’s 1-0 Vanarama Conference Premier defeat at Eastleigh ruled him out of a training camp with the Three Lions side this week.

Sparkes had been due to link up with the England C team – the national side made up of under-23 players operating outside the Football League – as manager Paul Fairclough decides on the side he will pick to face Turkey in the International Challenge Trophy next month.

The ankle injury ended that plan, but even though Devonshire feels the 23-year-old won’t be fit for tomorrow’s league visit of FC Halifax Town (kick-off 3pm), he is confident that Sparkes will get his England chance if he continues to impress for the Iron.

Devonshire said: “Dan is touch and go for the weekend and I’m pretty sure he won’t play.

“I was gutted for him to miss out on his chance to train with England as I know how much he was looking forward to it.

“However, if he carries on doing what he has been then I’m sure it won’t be his last chance.”

Devonshire said he still has other injury concerns.

Remy Clerima is getting close to a return and is probably a week away, while Sean Marks has had an MRI scan on his back and is due to find out today whether he is clear to return to action and Charlie Strutton is back in training, but won’t be rushed back in.

See this week's paper for the full version of this story.