A footballer will follow in the footsteps of England's World Cup team when he jets off to South Korea to represent Great Britain in the World Student Games.

Michael Lennon will be included in a squad of 19 that will fly out for the championships next month.

The 22-year-old, from Neville Close, Spennymoor, County Durham, found out two weeks ago he had been chosen out of 60,000 hopefuls.

Mr Lennon, who recently finished a degree in teaching PE, broke his leg just before Christmas and feared he would not be selected.

He said: "I didn't think I would be able to go because it was a bad break. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I can't wait to get out there.''

The squad has played a couple of friendly games as a warm up to the tournament, which starts on August 11.

The event will be played in all the same stadiums as the last World Cup and will follow the same format, lasting about three-and-a-half weeks.

Great Britain will meet Mexico, Morocco and the Ukraine in the first round.

Mr Lennon is the only player from the North-East in the squad and is hoping that companies in the region will sponsor him as he takes on the rest of the world.

He said: "We have to pay our own expenses and buy football boots.

"A lot of the lads in the team have already got sponsorship deals and a list of sponsors will appear on the website.

"It would be nice to be able to go out there and take something of the North-East with me.''

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Lennon can contact him on (01388) 420511.