Wood continues youth push with Guildford trio

Guildford's Nick Taylor, Adrian Wilkinson and Roly Ward have been given the opportunity of winning their first full England caps with the announcement yesterday of the squad for the Four Nations' Tournament in Gniezno, Poland from 20-24 June. All three played a major part in Guildford winning the EHA Cup and reaching the final of the Premiership play-offs.

Malcolm Wood, the England coach, made seven changes to the squad which went to Madrid last month, with Cannock's Scott Cordon being the fourth debutant picked. Wood has now given 10 new caps in his first two squads. However, the coach said yesterday that the absence of some England regulars did not indicate that they had been dropped.

"I am continuing with the policy to give new players the opportunity of exposure at senior international level," he said. The side contains just two of the Great Britain squad from tyhe Sydney Games ­ Danny Hall and Andy Humphrey.

England's opponents in Poland will be the host nation, Czech Republic and Egypt. The fast developing Poles caused a major surprise in last year's Olympic qualifying tournament in Osaka when they beat Great Britain 5-2.

ENGLAND SQUAD (Four Nations' Tournament, Poland, 20-24 June): D Hall, N Taylor, A Wilkinson, R Ward (all Guildford), A Todd, R Todd, Manpreet Kochar, B Barnes (all Reading), J Lewis, S Cordon, A Humphrey (all Cannock), D Matthews, J Evennett (both Canterbury), J Goudie, J Bleby (both Loughborough Students), D Woods (Southgate), D Haydon (Teddington), C Graham (Bournville).