Player Profiles
Name: Ryan Allsop
DOB: 17/06/92
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: West Bromwich Albion
The highly-rated Hawthorns stopper was called into the U17 squad for the Nordic Tournament in 2008 and made the perfect start to his international career by keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Finland in Sweden.
Name: Jed Steer
DOB: 23/09/92
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Norwich City
A regular for the Canaries Academy at various age groups and a highly rated young keeper at Carrow Road, Steer featured in the Victory Shield and Montaigu Tournament in 2007 with the U16s and was a part of the U17 squad which went to Sweden for the Nordic Tournament in 2008. Featured twice for The Young Lions in the UEFA European U17 Championship in May 2009.
Name: Samuel Johnstone
DOB: 25/03/93
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Manchester United
Tall and athletic, Samuel made his first appearance for the England U16 team against Scotland in November 2008 and produced a fine display, commanding his area and pulling off a few excellent saves. Called up to the U17 squad for the UEFA European U17 Championship and turned out against Turkey in the final group game.
Name: Deale Chamberlain
DOB: 10/04/92
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Liverpool
The Liverpool stopper was called into the England squad for the first time for The FA International U17 Tournament in 2008.
Defenders
Name: Carl Jenkinson
DOB: 08/02/92
Position: Defender
Club: Charlton Athletic
The right-back has broken through the ranks at Charlton Athletic, where he has been a regular fixture in the Academy team and reserves over the last season or so.
Name: Keanu Marsh-Brown
DOB: 10/08/92
Position: Defender
Club: Fulham
The tall and pacy right-back has impressed greatly in his games for Fulham so far and has also made a big impression on the international stage. The pacy right-back was a regular in the Young Lions U16 squad in 2007 and the U17s in 2008.
Name: Ezekiel Fryers
DOB: 09/09/92
Position: Defender
Club: Manchester United
A strong defender who is with the United Academy that has produced so many top players over the last few years. Calm and assured, he reads the game well from centre back and was a regular in the centre of the England U16 back line in the 2007-08, helping them to lift the Victory Shield.
Name: Eddie Oshodi
DOB: 14/01/92
Position: Defender
Club: Watford
Centre back Eddie has already featured in the first team for his club, after making a substitute appearance in a friendly game against Wingate & Finchley for the Hornets in 2007 prior to establishing himself with the Young Lions during last season’s Victory Shield success. Played in all three of the U17s group matches at the European Championship in Germany.
Name: Luke Garbutt
DOB: 21/05/93
Position: Defender
Club: Everton
A versatile defender who has previously represented the U16s and has become a regular in John Peacock's squad too, whilst still a year young for this age group. Capable of playing at left-back, centre back or left midfield if required. Scored his first England goal in the UEFA European U17 Championship in Germany. Transferred from Leeds to Everton in the summer of 2009.
Name: James Hurst
DOB: 31/01/92
Position: Defender
Club: Portsmouth
A versatile defender who made the move to Portsmouth from West Bromwich Albion’s Academy at the end of last season. He is primarily a right-sided full back but can also play on the left if required as he did for the U16s. He captained the team in the 2008 Nordic Tournament and played all three group games in May's U17 Euros.
Name: Oliver Nicholas
DOB: 21/01/92
Position: Defender
Club: Arsenal
A sturdy and strong central defender, who is making a big impression at Arsenal after playing a part in the England U16 squad. He was an ever present at the heart of the Young Lions defence in the 2008 Nordic Tournament in Sweden and also had the chance to lead the team out as skipper against Iceland.
Name: Sam Byles
DOB: 21/01/92
Position: Defender
Club: Arsenal
The Gunners ace is a versatile player and one of a highly rated crop of youngsters from the Emirates Stadium. He can play as a full back on either the left or the right hand side, whilst also being able to push on into midfield if needed. He performed impressively inthe 2007 Victory Shield.
Name: Jamie Reckord
DOB: 09/03/92
Position: Defender
Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Jamie was called into the U16 squad for the first time for a match with Holland in February 2008 and made his debut from the start in that game. He obviously made an impression, as he was part of the squad which won the Montaigu Tournament and was also involved in the Nordic Tournament in July 2008.
Name: Tom Parkes
DOB: 15/01/92
Position: Defender
Club: Leicester City
A strong central defender, who made his England debut in the Nordic Tournament in 2008. Starting in the opening game win against Finland, he went on to play in all three of the group games at that competition. Also featured twice in the U17 Euros, against Holland and Germany.
Name: Louis Laing
DOB: 06/03/93
Position: Defender
Club: Sunderland
A big and aggressive central defender, who is quick, strong and with good aerial ability. A determined attitude and will-to-win make him a formidable opponent for any attacker. Captained the U16s against Wales in 2008 and looked assured against Scotland in the last match. Lifted the Victory Shield alongside Luke Garbutt. Played against Turkey in the U17 Euros.
Name: Sam Habergham
DOB: 20/02/92
Position: Defender
Club: Norwich City
A left-back who was called up to the England squad for the first time for the Elite Round qualifiers in Hungary as a replacement for Ryan Tunnicliffe. Featured in the final group game of the U17 Euros, against Turkey.
Midfielders
Name: Kieran Edwards
DOB: 02/06/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Middlesbrough
Kieran was called into the Young Lions squad for the 2008 Nordic Tournament in Sweden, where he took part in all four games. The Middlesbrough-born player is a regular for the ‘Boro Academy side.
Name: Ahmed Benali
DOB: 07/02/92
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Club: Manchester City
A strong and confident player, whose passing allows him to create things from midfield. A regular for Manchester City, where he has featured for both the Academy and reserve teams. He was called into the Young Lions U16 squad in 2007 for the friendly game with Holland in Katwijk.
Name: Emmanuel Frimpong
DOB: 10/01/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Arsenal
A powerful and energetic central midfielder who has already established himself in Arsenal’s Academy U18 team and featured regularly for the England U16 team in 2007-08 and then the U17s in 2008-09. A good range of passing and very strong tackling has seen him progress through the ranks at the Emirates Stadium. Born in Ghana, but raised in England.
Name: Jonjo Shelvey
DOB: 22/02/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Charlton Athletic
Having already operated three years above his natural age group for the Charlton Athletic Academy U18 side and reserve team, Shelvey proved to be an important player for both the England U16 and U17 team. Also capable of playing as a forward, Shelvey is a dab hand from set-pieces, offering great delivery from free kicks as well as being a livewire in the box.
Name: Ryan Tunnicliffe
DOB: 30/12/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Manchester United
An all-action player who can be useful at either end of the pitch. As well as showing great tenacity in the engine room, Ryan also has the ability to play. Wore the captain’s armband for the England U16 team in 2007 and continued his international development with the U17 squad in 2008-09.
Name: John Bostock
DOB: 15/01/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
The rangy and skilful midfielder swapped south for north London in 2008, when Spurs swooped to sign him from Crystal Palace. He had cut his teeth in the Championship already, when he became Palace’s youngest ever player at 15 years and 289 days. Bostock has twice captained the U17s in The FA International Tournament and also donned the skipper's armband in the 2009 U17 Euros.
Name: Gary Gardner
DOB: 26/06/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Aston Villa
The younger brother of former England Under-21 and Aston Villa midfielder Craig Gardner, Gary was named in squad for the Nordic Tournament in 2008, but unfortunately had to withdraw. He was previously involved with the U16s in the Montaigu Tournament in March 2008 and played all three games in the 2009 U17 Euros.
Name: Jack Wilshere
DOB: 01/01/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Arsenal
This left-footed ace hit the headlines in November 2008 after becoming Arsenal's youngest-ever European representative when he came off the bench in the Gunners 1-0 Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev. Jack has been a regular with the U17s for a while now and starred for the Young Lions in their 1-1 draw with Holland in the U17 Euros.
Name: Billy Knott
DOB: 28/11/92
Position: Midfielder
Club: Chelsea
An out and out winger from Stamford Bridge, who is most at home on the left flank but can also play on the right hand side. Billy, who hails from Essex, was involved with the U16s in 2007 and was included in the squad which travelled to Tenerife for the European Championship qualifiers.
Forwards
Name: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
DOB: 15/04/92
Position: Forward
Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
A forward who was drafted into the U16 squad for the friendly game against Holland in 2008, when he made his first appearance in the starting line-up. He was then involved in the Montaigu Tournament and the 2008 Nordic Tournament.
Name: Lateef Elford-Alliyu
DOB: 01/06/92
Position: Forward
Club: West Bromwich Albion
A pacy striker who isn’t afraid to let fly with a shot. Lateef has been a regular for Albion’s U18 Academy and reserve team over the last three years and made a big impression in 2007 when he played in a friendly with Stafford for the first team, scoring a spectacular 40-yard winner in the process.
Name: José Baxter
DOB: 07/02/92
Position: Forward
Club: Everton
The striker has already been a regular in the Everton Academy U18 side over the last few years and after impressing there and with the reserves, he has been involved with David Moyes’ first team squad in the last 12 months and even scored against Nottingham Forest in a pre-season friendly. A real danger in the penalty box with his goalscoring instinct and intelligence off the ball. Previously capped at U16 and U17 level.
Name: Liam Head
DOB: 26/01/92
Position: Forward
Club: Plymouth Argyle
A tall and pacy forward who hails from Devon and has been on the books of local club Plymouth Argyle since he was spotted playing at the U12 level. He has often played in the age group above for the Pilgrims and was also a regular in the England U16 squad.
Name: Luke Freeman
DOB: 22/03/92
Position: Forward
Club: Arsenal
Luke was called into the squad for the first time for the Montaigu Tournament which took place in France in 2008, when he scored his first England goal against Japan. He was signed in Januray 2008 by the Gunners from Gillingham, where he had already featured in the first team and became the youngest ever player in The FA Cup when he played against Barnet, whilst still only 15 years and 233 days old.
Name: Cameron Park
DOB: 06/07/92
Position: Forward
Club: Middlesbrough
A left sided attacking winger, who has made a big impression whilst playing for Boro. A good dribbler who is confident and composed on the ball with a real turn of pace.
Name: Abdulai Baggie
DOB: 28/4/92
Position: Forward
Club: Reading
A pacy forward, who can play on the right hand side of the attack, or as an out-and-out winger. He was involved with the U16s in 2007 when he was in the squad to face Wales at Telford.
Name: Jacob Walcott
DOB: 26/06/92
Position: Forward
Club: Reading
A distant relation of Arsenal and England forward Theo, he can play on the left wing or further forward. Hailing from Abingdon, he has been with Reading's Academy since he was spotted playing for school at the age of 13 and was a regular with the Young Lions at both U16 and U17 level.
Name: Benik Afobe
DOB: 12/02/93
Position: Forward
Club: Arsenal
A strong and athletic centre forward, who also boasts a quick turn of pace with which he can escape the attentions of defenders. Benik scored four goals in three Victory Shield matches and spearheaded England U16's assault on the competition in 2008. Called up to the U17 squad for the U17 European Elite Round Qualifying, scoring twice, before playing against Turkey in the Finals' group stage.