As for Aston Villa, the local club who play just down the road, not a chance.

For England starlet James Hurst there was only one destination – Fratton Park.

The talented full-back sparked a transfer scramble after declining to pen a new deal with West Bromwich Albion earlier this year.

An England under-17 international, the chase was on – and it was Pompey who emerged victorious.

Hurst was yesterday unveiled alongside 13 other new scholars who have signed up for the Blues' blossoming Academy, run by Paul Hart, right.

Such has been the impressive investment in youth, the tally is triple the amount usually welcomed into Fratton Park on the annual intake day.

And a delighted Hurst possesses no doubts he made the correct decision.

He said: West Brom wanted to keep me but as soon as Portsmouth came in I knew that's where I wanted to be.

'It's a club on the up. They're the FA Cup winners, a Premier League club with high status, a top-eight team. For me it's the place to be.

'There were others interested such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Villa but I would obviously get more of a first-team opportunity here than I would at the others so it made sense.

'It's a really good club and there's a new stadium and new training facilities on the way so it's going to be really exciting round here.

'I had been at West Brom since I was nine-and-a-half but it wasn't really a wrench to leave, I didn't really mind. I knew it was the right thing to do.

'There's plenty of us that have arrived this season, I am just one of many, and that helps you settle in. I'm already living in Milton and enjoying it.

'I even had a training session with the first team at the end of the season and that was fantastic.

'I just can't wait for the season to start now and I can get on with playing football for Portsmouth.'

Before pulling on the Pompey shirt, Hurst will get the opportunity to represent England under-17s in Sweden from July 28.

The Sutton Coldfield youngster has been named in the 18-man squad for the 2008 Nordic Tournament involving eight nations.

Finland, Iceland, Norway are all in England's group while Denmark, Faroe Islands, Scotland and Sweden have been placed in the other.

Ironically, former Pompey favourites Kenny Swain and Noel Blake are his England coaches.

And Hurst can't wait for the opportunity of getting more international football under his belt.

He added: 'I've been involved with England since last October and have been playing regularly at left-back.

'It's going to be great going out there and playing even more international football.'