Peacock selects squad

UEFA U17 Elite Round Tournament
Israel, England, France, Russia
25-30 March 2008
Tel Aviv, Israel

England U17 Head Coach John Peacock has named an 18 man squad for the crucial Elite Round Tournament in Tel Aviv.

The young Lions will face France, Russia and hosts Israel at the end of March with the group winners earning a place at the European Championship Finals in Turkey in May.

Under Peacock's guidance last year's U17s lost in the Final of the European Championships to Spain and the Head Coach would relish another crack at the continent's finest.

However, he knows England will need to overcome stern opposition if they want to qualify.

But Peacock and England can afford to be confident ahead of the trip to the Middle East after an encouraging season where they have lost just once to Sweden.

Since that defeat in August England have scored six goals on three occasions, against Northern Ireland, Malta and Estonia, and have not conceded a goal in their last six outings.

England were given a further lift last month when they beat Elite Round opponents France 2-0 in the Algarve Tournament. Jacob Mellis, of Chelsea, and prolific Newcastle forward Ryan Donaldson scored the goals that day and both have been included in Peacock's squad for Tel Aviv.

John Bostock, who has played for Crystal Palace first team this season, will also travel to Israel as will Fulham goalkeeper Wesley Foderingham who was part of last year's U17 squad which took part in the World Cup in South Korea.

Fellow Fulham man Matthew Briggs - who is the youngest player in Premier League history at 16 years and 65 days - has also been named.

England squad: