[Huckerbys right foot]

TWO of Norwich City's brightest young football stars were at the centre of an al Qaida hijack scare, it emerged today.

The flight plans of England's Under-19 squad, which included city striker Ryan Jarvis, 17, and winger Ian Henderson, 19, were switched following the security alert.

The squad had been returning to London after being knocked out of the UEFA Under-19 European Championship's pre-qualifying tournament in Slovenia.

It is understood the FA was made aware of security intelligence linking Osama Bin Laden's terror network with a potential plot to hijack a Croatian Airways flight from Zagreb to London.

One national newspaper today claimed terrorists had planned to fly a plane into Big Ben.

Although the threat was not specific to any particular flight, the FA did not want to risk the players' safety, so the squad were therefore re-routed back to London via Milan.

A spokesman for the FA said: "We can confirm that the travel plans for the England Under-19s returning from Slovenia on Monday May 3 were changed based on security concerns.

"Although there was no specific threat to the England team, based on security advice the decision was taken to arrange alternative travel. Instead of flying back to London via Zagreb, the team travelled to Milan and flew back from Italy.

"The FA treats the safety and security of the England players as their topmost priority, and will always take all necessary precautions in this regard.

"However, as a matter of policy The FA does not discuss the details of its security arrangements."

Both Henderson and Jarvis played key roles in England's short-lived qualifying campaign.

The teenage duo scored a goal each during the national side's 3-0 demolition of Denmark in their second game.

But a 2-1 defeat to Slovenia and a 1-1 draw with Germany were not enough to see the young lions progress.

They also figured in Norwich City's championship winning season.

Henderson, originally from Thetford, scored four league goals for the Canaries, while Jarvis, from Fakenham, became city's youngest ever goalscorer with his consolation in the 2-1 home defeat to Watford back in November. Neither were available for comment today.

Joe Ferrari, a spokesman for Norwich City Football Club, said: "We're not aware of any terrorist threat. Both players, we're happy to say, reported for training at Colney yesterday morning.

"If preventative action was taken by the FA then that's something the club would obviously support."

The increased terrorist risk to footballers was underlined last month when Manchester United upped security at their Old Trafford ground following reports extremist groups were planning to use suicide bombers during their Premiership match with Liverpool.