CHERRIES midfielder Brian Stock has admitted he is expecting a tough time if he is given an Italian job tonight.

The cultured 20-year-old, man-of-the-match in AFC Bournemouth's 2-1 win over Hartlepool on Sunday, is in contention to make his first start for Wales Under-21s.

They host Italy at Ninian Park, Cardiff (7.45pm), in a European Under-21 Championship qualifying tie.

Winchester-born Stock, who qualifies for the Principality courtesy of a Welsh grandmother, made his international bow last month.

He came on as a substitute for the final seven minutes in Wales' 2-1 defeat in Finland in another qualifying match.

Stock, who joined up with the Welsh contingent at their Vale of Glamorgan Hotel headquarters in Treforest late on Sunday night, said: "It is just great to be part of the squad.

"And it is particularly good to come away for Wales after a result like our win on Sunday.

"You can't get much bigger than playing against the Italians and I am really looking forward to it.

"They have players worth millions and millions of pounds, even at under-21 level. So it is going to be a particularly hard game. It will be an experience for me.

"It would be nice to get another cap. But I don't know whether I will get a game or not, although it would be great if I did.

"Hopefully I can at least get on the bench like last time. We'll have to wait and see what happens tonight."

The Italians have already won both of their opening games - including Friday's 4-1 mauling of Yugoslavia - and have blasted seven goals to head group nine while Wales have not won at this level for 25 games, spread over five years.

Stock is highly-rated by Wales national boss Mark Hughes, the former Manchester United striker, who has publicly stated he wants to bring the Cherries player through the ranks to full international level.

So it would be no surprise if Stock gets an even longer taste of action tonight than the seven minutes he got in Valkaekoski last month.

Stock arrived in Treforest buoyed by Bournemouth's win over Division Three table-toppers Hartlepool which propelled Cherries to within one point of the leaders.

The youngster said: "Getting the Sky Sports' man-of-the-match award was a big thing for me as well as the bottle of champagne.

"Performing well in a game like that gives you a big boost and Sean O'Driscoll and Peter Grant said they were pleased with me as well.

"My confidence is really good at the moment, especially with the whole team playing as well as they are.

"Hartlepool were very well organised and I didn't know if we could break them down. But we managed to get in front.

"It was hard battling with the wind and rain.

"But I totally enjoyed it. I actually wanted the game to go on a bit longer!"