Dexter's stock rises

England Under-21 winger Wayne Routledge played his part in Crystal Palace's 2-0 win over Birmingham at the weekend.

Sun journalist Andrew Dillon commented that Routledge "switched flanks from left to right and back again in an attempt to bamboozle Birmingham."

England Under-20 international Danny Graham (left) scored his first league goal in Middlesbrough's 2-2 draw at home to Charlton on Sunday.

Graham, 19, came on as an 82nd minute substitute and grabbed an equalising goal four minutes later.

Boro boss Steve McClaren said: "Danny suffered a broken nose when he scored the goal but he's a good old-fashioned forward who isn't worried about going where the boots are flying." (The Sun)

Graham admits that at first he did not even know he had scored! He said: "I was out of it for a few seconds and someone had to wake me to tell me I had got the equaliser."

Under-20 ace Gary Borrowdale came on as a late substitute for Palace.

Plymouth boss Bobby Williamson is hoping to keep Dexter Blackstock for another two months after seeing the on-loan Southampton striker score in Saturday's 3-0 win against Crewe.

Blackstock, who is an England Under-19 international, admits he would have no objections about remaining at Home Park.

He said: "I'd be more than happy to stay. It's a good standard and I'm learning all the time." (The Sun)

Young Lion Lee Holmes (above) scored for Swindon in their 1-1 draw at Doncaster.

Under-19 cap Holmes is on loan at Swindon from Derby and has been a regular in their side.

Another Under-19 international, Matt Fryatt, played for the full 90 minutes in Walsall's 1-1 draw at home to Bradford.

It is a busy month for the England youth sides in March, with the Under-19s and Under-17s both involved in qualifying tournaments for their respective European Championships whilst the Under-16s play in the Montaigu Tournament in France.

Peter Taylor's Under-21s face tough macthes at home to Germany and Azerbaijan as they too look to cement their place in the European Championship for their age group.

England Youth Matches - March 2005