WESTHOUGHTON hockey player James Sutcliffe admits to being overcome with emotion after England Under-21s missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the European Junior Championships.

The 20-year-old half-back, who has played for England at u16s and u18s level, was taking part in his first international event in more than a year after overcoming a potentially career-threatening hip injury.

He was forced to undergo complex surgery, which involved the joint being popped out and bone shaved off it, and it was touch and go if the British Aerospace apprentice would ever play again, but Sutcliffe battled back.

So it was a bitter sweet moment when his side were knocked out of the tournament at the end of the group stages, after following up an opening 8-0 win against Portugal with 2-2 draws against the Netherlands and hosts Spain.

"It was a pretty incredible experience," said the former Westhoughton High School pupil, who plays for Sale-based side Brooklands in the English Premier League.

"It was great to get in there playing for the U21s again after spending such a long time out through injury.

"I had been out for the past 14 months and spent many long hours in the gym, so I was pretty emotional after we just failed to make it into the semi-finals.

"It felt like we were the best team in the tournament.

"The defence was solid and going forward we always posed a threat.

"We had the player of the tournament in Rhys Smith and the joint top goal scorer in Will Calman.

"But when it came down to it we maybe just lacked an out-an-out goal scorer. Will had scored most of his goals from short corners and we just needed someone who could finish off chances from open play."

England had one foot in the last four after going 2-1 up in their final group game against Spain. And while the hosts pulled a goal back to make it through at their expense, England missed a host of chances to snatch a late winner.

Spain and Netherlands finished on the same number of points but both went through on goal difference after winning 10-0 and 12-0 against whipping boys Portugal.

The Netherlands went on to beat Belgium on penalties in the final, while England won their two remaining matches in a secondary tournament.

Sutcliffe added: "It was a great experience, despite the result, and was probably the best I have played in an England shirt."

The former Preston player has since attended trials for the British U21s team, getting down to the final 40.

He will return for secondary trials, when 18 players will be picked to take part in the prestigious Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia next month, where the best countries in the world will go head-to-head.

It is all part of a process that will hopefully one day lead Sutcliffe into the senior set-up.

He said: "I am confident I can make the (British U21s) squad if I perform to my best on the day.

"Looking forwards, after spending so long out through injury I just try to take each day as it comes, so I will just be concentrating on having a successful season for my club.

"But the ultimate aim is to get my face known, try to get a central contract with Team GB, and maybe one day make an Olympic squad."