Alex Danson, Trojans' outstanding teenage goalscoring forward, has been selected to play for England Women in next month's World Hockey Cup in Australia.

The gifted 17-year-old is among a party of 18 who will pit their skills against the world's top women hockey players in a three-week tournament in Perth, Western Australia.

Her selection is the hockey equivalent of Southampton's Wayne Bridge going to the football World Cup in Japan last summer.

Despite having been capped ten times already by England, Danson described her World Cup selection as "a complete surprise."

"I honestly didn't think I would be going to Perth and thought that my pre-Christmas would be spent on A-level studies," she said modestly.

"Obviously, it's wonderful news; unquestionably it's the pinnacle of my career so far."

Danson, who lives in Odiham, was Trojans' top goalscorer in last season's EHA Division 1 championship triumph.

She has scored all three goals for Trojans in the Premier Division this season, but has yet to play in a winning Stoneham team.

Danson, whose younger sister is celebrating selection for Hampshire Under-14s, got a taste of life in international hockey's fast lane in the summer.

"I played four times for England in the Champions Trophy in Peking - a tournament which brought together the six top women's teams in the world.

"The standard was phenomenal - and we finished sixth," she smiled.

Danson anticipates that the host country Australia, Argentina, China and Holland will be the top teams in the 16-strong tournament.

It will also be her first trip to Australia.

"I've played for England Under-21s in Argentina, Spain and the USA, and for the full team in China and South Africa - but Australia will be a first.

"Everyone's been telling me what a beautiful place Perth is and I'll be crossing off the days before we go," she said.

Danson knows she has numerous England training camps to attend before she jets off to the Western Australian sun in mid-November.

"We will be playing in pretty intense heat in Perth - ironically, England's cricketers are playing a Test Match there at the same time - so a lot of attention will be focussed on our fitness," she added.

Danson's Trojans team-mates are delighted at her selection.

"Alex is a phenomenal talent, quite brilliant on the ball, and has a great career to look forward to," said Trojans captain Alison Wakefield.