Cattermole receives call-up

McGugan has returned to club side Nottingham Forest and will miss the three European Championship qualifiers.

The loss of McGugan will come as a blow to coach John Peacock.

He came into the side as a substitute against Italy in the first match of Pepsi Tournament and, having impressed, he started the next two games against Russia and Portugal, scoring in the 3-1 win over the Portuguese.

He retained his place for the two friendlies in October and November but was used as a substitute in England's three games in the Algarve Tournament in January.

For Cattermole, this call-up represents a great chance to show what he can do and try to cement his place in John Peacock's thoughts.

He has made five appearances for the U17s so far this season - in the Nordic Tournament against Sweden, Denmark and the 4-0 win over Norway, and then two more in the Pepsi Tournament versus Italy and Russia in early September.

Cattermole has not made an appearance for the U17s since that game at Gillingham a little over seven months ago.

He now joins 17 other players in a strong looking group of players, as England aim to qualify for the European Finals and improve on their recent record of four successive semi-final appearances.

England will take on Serbia and Montenegro, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in a mini-tournament which will see one side make it through to the finals in Italy.

As England are ranked as Europe's top side in UEFA's seeding system, Peacock's side received a bye into this, the Second and final stage of European Championship Qualifying.

The six matches in the group will be held over five days in the Midlands with Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Walsall hosting the England matches.

The matches in Second Qualifying Round, Group 2 start on 26 March and will be covered extensively here on TheFA.com.

England U17 Squad, European Championship Qualifiers, March 2005