Bradford City reserve left back Lewis Emanuel has suffered the heartache of being forced to pull out of the England under-19s squad to play Georgia and Hungary in the UEFA qualification tournament over the next five days.

The former Bradford schoolboy has a calf injury and England youth coach, former City assistant manager Martin Hunter, said: "Unfortunately he is not fit for tonight's match against Georgia at York. Lewis had a knock on the Achilles in a match on Saturday and this has caused tightness in the calf.

"For such an important game and the possible consequences we cannot risk him which is a great shame. We have to pick a squad of 18 for the two matches, tonight and against Hungary at Barnsley on Sunday. It's a great disappointment that Lewis cannot be involved."

England need to win both matches to be sure of qualifying for a two-legged intermediary round against Lithuania and from there they hope to qualify for the European Championship finals in Norway next summer. Before the Lithuania matches there will be a friendly.

Emanuel, who made his league debut against Grimsby in September, said he wasn't aware Hunter had been watching his progress, but added: "I feel my progress has gone very fast.

"I train with the first team every day and I feel I am improving all the time. It has helped my game by increasing my awareness."

Hunter went on: "Lewis has done very well. I have been watching him since he was a 15-year-old and he played for England at junior level.

"He is making rapid progress, playing in the reserves regularly at City and having some first team experience as well.

"Lewis has got many things to learn about the defensive side of the game, but he has become more composed on the ball. He is also obviously physically more mature and can cope with the pressures that comes with the game.

"We have had him watched a couple of times and we have had good reports on him."

Even though Emanuel is disappointed at not being able to play, but it is an honour to be chosen in the squad and nowhere is his progress being more watched more keenly than at his old school Hanson, only a mile from Valley Parade.

Hanson's head of sixth form Derek Needham said: "The thing that stood out most of all about Lewis was that he was physically strong for his age, but he never did anything he couldn't do. That is what characterised him.

"I have seen him on several occasions since he left school and he is just the same lad as he was when he was with us. I think Bradford City are doing a good job with him."