A BURNLEY youngster is hoping that once he pops he can't stop in a national "keepy-uppy" competition.

Marcus Palmer, from Lyndhurst Road, is just one step away from being picked to join the first Pringles freestyle football squad after dazzling judges with his ball skills.

But if he is to make it on to the team he has to ditch the football and keep up an empty box of Pringles crisps at the trials on May 7 in Derby.

The 16-year-old said: "Once we did the football skills we were given a DVD and told to work on the skills for when we go back. It's things like balancing a Pringles packet on your head and then rolling it on to the back of your neck and then on to your front again and balancing a football on top of the box then sitting on it.

"They've just told me to practise as much as I can. It's been hard but I think I'll manage it."

The Mansfield High School, Brierfield, pupil, who plays in midfield for the school team and trains with Brierfield Celtic, took part in qualifying rounds in Manchester after reading about the challenge in a newspaper.

He was put through his paces by football experts including Bolton Wanderers coach Dave Bailey.

He said: "My auntie told me about it and then I saw it in the paper. I usually practise my keepy uppys but most of the time I'm just messing about.

"My record is 307 but for this they made me do lots of tricks and flicks like keeping the ball up with every part of my body and balancing it the back of my neck.

"In the afternoon we had to do some passing, shooting and dribbling in front of television cameras."

Bailey said: "The competition was fierce. We witnessed some top rate hopefuls all showing incredible footwork, skill control and con-centration. They all thoroughly deserve a place in the final, having remained consistent throughout and calm under pressure while displaying a certain charisma making them each a crucial element to the team's dynamic."

If he is lucky enough to become part of the squad he will tour the country this summer showing off his ball juggling skills.

And at the end of it all team members will be pitted against each other to win the title of ultimate freestyler with a chance to win a weekend training with top footballers including Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Roberto Carlos and Freddie Ljunberg.

Marcus, who is a Liverpool fan, added: "I'm hoping to get through to the last 10 and then to win it. To train with players like Gerrard would be great."