AFC Fylde boss Dave Challinor believes international call ups for James Hardy and Jordan Tunnicliffe are thoroughly deserved.

Midfielder Hardy has been named in the England C squad for a friendly against Wales later this month, whilst defender Tunnicliffe is included within the contingency squad.

Challinor said: “Anything that further promotes and enhances our club and our players can only be beneficial.

“The two lads have been called up before but there are probably a couple of others in my squad that will think themselves unlucky not to be involved. 

“As a manager, you take note of the players in the squad and in my opinion it is full of players that have done really well this season. 

“It’s a good experience for all the lads involved and it comes at a good time for James because it gives him an extra game in his comeback from injury. He will go and enjoy that when it comes around. 

“He is still a long way behind where he needs to be, but I don’t think that will improve quickly. We have to manage him carefully and get as much as we can out of him between now and the end of the season. 

“Pre-season will be a really important time for him and hopefully he can get himself ahead of the game. Due to injury, he spent a lot of last pre-season catching up. He now has to make sure he is right at it come July to give himself the best chance for next season.”