German youth international defender Nils Zander has been offered a professional contract on his 17th birthday.

The teenager was signed ten months ago from Bundesliga side Schalke amidst a blaze of publicity. The left back has featured in half a dozen matches at Under 18 level this season as he settles into life in a new country.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Zander was one of a number of highly touted European prospects that were signed at the back end of last season and has obviously shown enough in his short time at the club to warrant the deal.