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Former Liverpool youngster Sean Highdale has been picked to represent Great Britain at the Paralympics in Rio.

Highdale is one of three local footballers to make the 14-man squad, along with Ollie Nugent and former Everton trainee Michael Barker.

Highdale was 17 when he was critically injured in a car crash which claimed the lives of two of his friends in 2008 and has had to undergo lengthy rehabilitation in the intervening years.

He said: “I’m really happy that my place on the team is confirmed. Like many of my team-mates, this will be my first Paralympic Games but I’m so excited for the opportunity and it’s such an honour to represent your country on the international stage.

“I hope we can make everyone back at home proud, and I’m so grateful for all of the support that I’ve had to help me get here.”

Barker, who played in Beijing in 2008 and wore the captain’s armband in the London Olympics in 2012, believes the squad has never been stronger.

He said: “It’s such an honour to be selected to represent ParalympicsGB for the third time. We’ve come a long way since I made my debut in Beijing back in 2008 and the squad is probably the strongest that it’s ever been. The support that we had during London 2012 was incredible too and I want to see it continue through to Rio – it inspires us to give everything we’ve got when we step onto the pitch.”

Nugent, a former forward for Tranmere Rovers who currently plays for Chester FC, added: “To be selected to ParalympicsGB is a huge honour and I’m really excited to be part of such an incredible team of athletes. We’ve been working really hard in training to ensure we’re ready to go out there and compete and I can’t wait for our first match.”

Selected athletes (football 7-a-side):

Jack Rutter

Home town: Gloucester

Sean Highdale

Hometown: Liverpool

Emyle Rudder

Home town: Stratford, London

Matt Crossen

Home town: Stockton on Tees

Ollie Nugent

Home town: Irby, Wirral

Giles Moore

Home town: Ilminster

Ryan Kay

Home town: Peterborough

Michael Barker

Home town: Liverpool

Liam Irons

Home town: Dunstable

Martin Hickman

Home town: Lennoxtown / Motherwell

David Porcher

Home town: Livingston

James Blackwell

Home town: Bristol

Jonathan Paterson

Home town: Motherwell

David Leavy

Home town: Downpatrick