A Whitton teenager has taken his first steps towards international footballing fame after being called up to the Romanian national youth team.

Andrei Stanescu, 15, will take part in a training camp in Bucharest over the Christmas Holidays having impressed for his club side Fulham.

The goalkeeper, who moved to the UK from Romania two years ago, will spend a week training with the team in preparation for an upcoming international tournament next year.

The Twickenham School student, who has also played for premier league champions Chelsea, said he can’t wait to join up with other young Romanian players.

He said: “To get the chance to represent your country, to hear the national anthem and the people singing with you will be most incredible experience.

“There is a tournament coming up and I want to do my absolute best to make sure I have a chance of making the team."

Andrei said support from the PE department at Twickenham School has been crucial to his development.

He added: “The school have been really supportive of me. The PE department in particular have helped with training and encouraging me. I can’t thank them enough.

Andrei is the second student from Twickenham School to have made an impression on the international stage.

Lauren James, 15, Whitton, scored four goals as she captained England’s women’s U17 team to a 10-0 victory over Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier last month (November).

Head of PE at Twickenham School David Bryan said: “We are really proud of Andrei here in the PE department.

“He has worked hard for a number of years now and deserves his international call up. It is a great honour to represent your country and we wish him luck.

“With him and Lauren James now playing in the Full Arsenal Ladies 1st Team and Captaining England, it is great news for us and shows the quality of athlete we have here at the school”