COLCHESTER United, as a team, have been taking the plaudits in recent months, but yesterday was the turn of some of their individuals to gain recognition.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United, as a team, have been taking the plaudits in recent months, but yesterday was the turn of some of their individuals to gain recognition.

Manager Phil Parkinson revealed that both Greg Halford and John White would have been in the Football League's under-21 squad to face their Italian counterparts, but for a fixture clash.

The U's exciting young duo were in the original squad, only for the Essex club's continued interest in the LDV Vans Trophy to force under-21 boss Peter Taylor into a rethink.

Parkinson said last night: “It is fantastic for us to have these lads in contention for such a game.

“Peter Taylor rang me to say that he was planning to include them in the squad. Unfortunately, the match is on the same night as the first leg of our LDV Vans Trophy (southern area final) tie at Swansea (on Tuesday, February 21).”

Halford starred for the England under-20 squad in the Toulon Tournament in France last summer, but for 20-year-old defender White it is the first time he has been linked with such a prestigious representative game. The Football League under-21s will entertain their counterparts of Italia Seria B at Hull City's KC Stadium.

Meanwhile, team-mate Mark Yeates had been called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad, for the U-21 International Tourna-ment of Madeira, to be staged during the week February 13-18.

U's Chief Executive Marie Partner confirmed: “Colchester, Tottenham and Mark had discussions about whether he would go out to Madeira but, with the many games we have coming up, the player and the two clubs decided he will stay with us."

Midfielder Neil Danns, who bagged a brace in Saturday's FA Cup 3-1 win over Derby County, is in the running for the FA's Player of the Round award following his fourth-round heroics.

U's fans are being urged to show their support for Danns by voting for him in an on-line poll at www.TheFA.com

Danns is one of five players short-listed. The others are Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, Bolton's Ricardo Gardner, Brentford's DJ Campbell and Stoke keeper Ed De Goey. The deadline for voting is Monday, February 6.