FORMER Suffolk schoolboy Joe Lewis continued his meteoric rise to stardom as England faced Trinidad and Tobago last night.The Peterborough goalkeeper, who attended Bungay High School, was on the brink of becoming the first player from the fourth tier of English football to represent England as he again sat on the substitutes' bench for England's 3-0 win.

FORMER Suffolk schoolboy Joe Lewis continued his meteoric rise to stardom as England faced Trinidad and Tobago last night.

The Peterborough goalkeeper, who attended Bungay High School, was on the brink of becoming the first player from the fourth tier of English football to represent England as he again sat on the substitutes' bench for England's 3-0 win.

Lewis, who still plays cricket for Bungay, was an unused substitute in England's 2-0 victory over the USA at Wembley on Wednesday.

He was again in the squad for last night's friendly international following his shock elevation to the England party.

The 20-year-old joined Peterborough in a £400,000 deal in January from Norwich City, where his career was stalling.

Lewis, who was born at Broome, just over the border in Norfolk, said: “At Norwich I was on the bench, training, not playing and it was hard to motivate myself.

“I was struggling to get a club. Nobody really wanted me because I was inexperienced.

“Luckily, Sammy McIlroy took a chance on me at Morecambe.”

He added: “I had a couple of good games against Peterborough and that was where the move came from.

“I could have stayed at Norwich, which hadn't got me anywhere. I was desperate.”

Lewis was at his father's house in Broome when he received the call to join the England squad last weekend.

He joked: “I almost turned down Mr Capello's offer because I was due to open the bowling for Bungay on Saturday.”

Lewis only made his England Under-21 debut as a substitute against Wales last month after starring for Peterborough as they won promotion from League Two.