The team is identical to that which will compete at the Paralympics this summer and includes former Queens Park Rangers youngster Alistair Patrick-Heselton, a striker-cum-midfielder, along with forward Michael Barker (pictured top), winner of the Golden Boot as top scorer with 11 goals for England at the 2011 Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA) World Cup in the Netherlands.

As well as Barker – who used to play at the Everton Academy alongside Manchester United star Wayne Rooney before sustaining a head injury – and midfielder/defender Sinclair (pictured below with his brother), Matt Dimbylow, a defender, and midfielder/defender Josh Beacham also featured in Britain's last BT Paralympic World Cup outing in 2010.

Lynch will lead his 12-strong squad into action in a tricky tournament in which Britain faces Brazil, the Republic of Ireland and the United States.


The competition takes place at the Manchester Arena from May 23 to 26 and will mark the British team's first appearance in the event since 2010.

Lynch said: "Our squad is in tremendous shape and I know that everyone involved with the team is really looking forward to the BT Paralympic World Cup.

"We've got a great mixture of older and younger players, with a whole wealth of experience between them, so it's just the right ingredients for a successful campaign.

"With the Paralympics just around the corner, the lads will be desperate to put in some top drawer performances they can take away with them into the Games.

"It's been a long time waiting for this summer to come around, but now it's here we're all desperate to make the most of it."

He added: "Chances like this do not come around very often, so it's important we all focus hard and put in the effort now we are at the business end of the campaign."

A determined Dimblyow (pictured below, in red), who, along with Barker and midfielder/defender Jonathan Paterson, was part of the team which came seventh at the last Paralympic Games in Beijing, and he says his team is relishing heading to Manchester.

"The lads are in great spirits and can't wait to get out onto the field at the BT Paralympic World Cup," said the 41-year-old.


"It's such a great venue, literally in the shadows of Manchester City's [Etihad] ground, and I know everyone will be very up for it.

"We've got such a strong squad, with some world-class players at our disposal, so I'll be disappointed if we do not go out there and show everyone, including our opposition, what we can do.

"On our day we can beat anyone in the world and that's the attitude we need to take against some very tough opposition.

"If we can win this we can really push on and take it to London.

"Excitement has been building for some time within the squad, but we're all very conscious not to get carried away.

"There's a lot of work to be done and we're determined to make the most of this great honour and fantastic summer of sport by putting our all in, first in Manchester and then later in London."

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