The prolific Hearn (23) is a former top scorer for Hucknall Town and is now with The Yellows' Blue Square North rivals, Alfreton Town.

He was picked in the 16-man England C squad for the friendly match away to Malta Under-21s on Tuesday February 17.

But despite a last-minute plea to the Home Office for special dispensation, he was told that it would take a minimum of two weeks to process his application.

Now he fears the chance to represent his country might have gone for good.

"I'm absolutely gutted," said striker Hearn, who hails from Bulwell.

"I can't believe it – you get called up by England and you can't even get an English passport!

"I've never had a full one because, when I was younger, I just used to apply for a temporary passport so I could nip over to France and things like that.

"Because of that, I was treated as if I was applying for the first time and that meant I had to go through an interview.

"We tried to speed it up but there was nothing I could do. I have had so many arguments with them but all to no avail."

Hearn was replaced in the squad by Adam Boyes, of York City. England won the game 4-0.

He was originally selected after making a dynamic impact at Alfreton where he has scored 16 goals in only 19 appearances this term.

Hearn was also top scorer for Hucknall in the 2006/07 season – after being discovered by former manager Kevin Wilson. But he was released by David Lloyd in a squad shake-up in October 2007.

He drifted into the lower levels of the non-league game and was even allowed to play Sunday football, hammering no fewer than 67 goals, including six hat-tricks in eight games, for hometown club, Scots Grey.