The progress of Worcester's youngsters has finally been recognised by the international selectors with the call up of prop Matt Mullan to the England Saxons squad.

England team manager Martin Johnson has included the 21-year-old prop in his Elite Player Squad as a replacement for Gloucester and former Moseley front row man Jack Forster.

Mullan, a product of the Sixways academy, has enjoyed a stunning season for Worcester and featured in 14 games this term and the former Bromsgrove School student can now look forward to international rugby in the near future and has been congratulated by director of rugby Mike Ruddock.

“This is great news for Matt Mullan and for Worcester Warriors," Ruddock said.

"Matt is an extremely dedicated and hard working player, is very professional in everything he does and has a great future ahead of him.

“He fully deserves this recognition and hopefully he will make even bigger progress and force his way into the full international team at some stage in the future.”

Mullan's promotion comes after months of frustration when Johnson seemed reluctant to pick players like Marcel Garvey and Miles Benjamin for the summer tours despite both players operating as well as any winger in the Premiership last term.

But there has been no doubting Mullan's performances and having already represented his country in age group rugby he will step up to rival Gloucester's Nick Wood for the loosehead berth.

He will also join former Sixways academy player Richard Blaze, who moved to Leicester, and experienced internationals like Ben Kay, Julian White and Joe Worsley.