Kane and very able to take on Europe's elite

something of an understatement.

The 19-year-old has established himself in the Bannsiders first team, and in the process become one of the hottest properties in the Irish League.

Kane has helped Coleraine maintain a push for a European place, and those performances have been rewarded with his inclusion in the Northern Ireland squad for the forthcoming Under-19 European Championships Elite Stage.

The local lad received the news last week and needless to say he was delighted.

“I am over the moon, when I got the email I was ecstatic, to be selected for your country at any level is a real honour,” he told Times Sport.

Kane played his part in helping Stephen Craigan’s side qualify for the elite group stages, and he can’t wait to test himself against the best young players in Europe.

“I am really looking forward to getting away with the lads again, there is a great bond within the squad and it is always a great experience to test yourself in tournaments like this,” he said.

Kane and the rest of the squad head off to Holland to face hosts the Netherlands, Poland and Ukrain e in three games on March 24th, 26th and 29th.

The seven group winners will progress to join hosts Germany in the finals from 11 to 24 July.

“We have a really tough draw, probably one of the hardest in the elite stages,” said Kane.

“We will go with confidence and under no pressure, we weren’t even expected to qualify into this stage. We will be well organised and hard to break down, international football is totally different and there isn’t much between countries.”

Team-mate Brad Lyons is on stand-by for the competition and Mark Edgar misses out with injury otherwise three Bannsiders could have been going.

“It shows that the club are doing everything right in order to improve and move forward,” a delighted Kane added.