Johnny Gorman's big adventure

Wolves rookie Johnny Gorman faces a trip into the unknown as he prepares to play against Italy.

The 17-year-old has kept his place in the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against the 2006 World Cup winners and the Faroe Islands.

Bizarrely, the winger is preparing to face the 2006 world champions on Friday, despite spending three days a week at school studying for his 'A' levels.

Having not even visited Northern Ireland's home ground Windsor Park, the teenager admits he has another new experience to sample.

And Gorman, who already has four caps but has yet to play for Wolves' first team, is very much looking forward to it.

He said: "It will be my biggest game yet if I'm involved. I've never been to Windsor Park before. My dad knows a little bit about it and my cousins have been.

"Everyone I've spoken to says the atmosphere on the night will be fantastic."

Gorman admits he can't wait to face some of the bigger names on the international stage.

He said" "I've already played against some big players like Altintop and Tuncay for Turkey and some of the Chile players that went to the World Cup.

"But coming up against Italy would be incredible - they only won the World Cup four years ago and have been a major force.

"To come up against the likes of Andrea Pirlo and others would be a great experience."

Gorman even believes the Irish could spring a major upset in what is a transitional phase for the Italians.

He said:"We've beaten England and Spain in the past at Windsor Park so why not Italy?"

Despite the glamour of playing with and against big stars, boarding at Repton School means Gorman doesn't have a problem keeping his feet on the ground.

He said: "I've got a really good group of friends at school and it's nice, because they're not all mad football fans.

"They might play the odd game of FIFA or a little kickabout in the yard, but they're not mad football fans and that helps.

"But if someone had told me six months ago I'd have got four senior caps for Northern Ireland and be playing in the reserves at Wolves and was still at school I'd have laughed.

"I just couldn't have contemplated it. I nearly didn't go to the first training camp of this year, because I'd been struggling with shin splints."

Gorman is the son of two lecturers and his education was always going to vie with football as a sensible fall-back if things don't work out.

He said: "I want to finish my education. I don't think it's a good example to start it and then drop out after a year.

"When I do finish it I'll be 18 and there's still a long time ahead in front of me."

Gorman's next step is to push on at Wolves by getting regular reserve team football.

He said: "The aim for this year is to get a few games for the reserves, establish myself there and see what happens."