England's U16s take on Scotland on Thursday in final Victory Shield game

England U16s v Scotland
Sky Sports Victory Shield
7.35pm, Thursday 29 November 2012
Pirelli Stadium, Burton Albion FC

Click here for ticket details

by Glenn Lavery

On Thursday evening, England and Scotland will once again battle it out for the Victory Shield.

The annual U16 schoolboy competition will be decided at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium where a point will be enough for Kenny Swain’s Young Lions to secure a twelfth straight success. A Scotland win means the Shield will be shared.

England opened up with a convincing 5-0 victory in Northern Ireland before registering a narrow 1-0 win over Wales earlier this month.

And Head Coach Kenny Swain is happy with the way his side have played so far.

He said: “I have been pleased with our performances over the two games, especially because they each provided us with a different challenge.

“Against Northern Ireland we scored after 20 minutes so we were able to ease into the game more comfortably, we got better as it went on and we ended up winning 5-0.

“It was a different game in Wales, though. It was a case of remaining patient and eventually we got the only goal of the game early the second half.

“Over the course of those two games we enjoyed a lot of possession and played with patience and a belief which should stand us in good stead.”

England have been staying and training at St. George’s Park this week, in preparation for the decider.

The £105m national football centre is the new home for all 24 representative teams and it contains 12 outdoor pitches and a sports medicine, rehabilitation and performance centre.

Swain added: “Training has gone very well.

“To have a facility like St. George’s Park, to be able to walk out of the hotel and straight onto the pitch is brilliant.

“Staying and preparing at a venue like that has been a great experience for these players, one I that I think will help push them on.”

Squad in full

Goalkeepers
Bradley Collins (Chelsea), Ryan Huddart (Arsenal)
Defenders
Tosin Adarabioyo* (Manchester City), Tom Brewitt (Liverpool), Jay Dasilva (Chelsea), Mandela Egbo (Crystal Palace), Joseph Gomez (Charlton Athletic), Tafari Moore (Arsenal)
Midfielders
Mukhtar Ali (Chelsea), Callum Cooke** (Middlesbrough), Ryan Ledson (Everton), Joshua Onomah (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Pybus (Sunderland), Giorgio Rasulo (MK Dons), Jordan Rossiter (Liverpool)
Forwards
Isaiah Brown (West Bromwich Albion), Demetri Mitchell (Manchester United), Patrick Roberts (Fulham).

* replaces Kyle Cameron from Newcastle United
** replaces Adam Armstrong from Newcastle United