England U17s kick-off the Algarve Tournament against Germany on Friday

After seeing England’s Senior, Under-21 and U19s in action this week, it’s now the turn of John Peacock’s U17 side on Friday.

The Young Lions face Germany in the opening game of the annual Algarve Tournament in Portugal, the first of three matches in five days.

And after winning this competition last year, Peacock knows that the fixtures will work as ideal preparation for his squad’s Elite Qualifying Round next month.

He said: “It’s always a good tournament for us, with tough opposition and three games in five days.

“That’s what we’ll be facing in the Elite Round so it always comes at the perfect time and works for all of the nations involved.

"It's a competition we like to enter and there's a reciprocal arrangement with the Portuguese, who come and play in our U17 competition in England every August."

After Friday’s game, England take on hosts Portugal on Sunday and then the Netherlands on Tuesday, after which the best team of the four will be crowned as Algarve champions.

Ironically, Peacock’s side have been drawn out with Portugal in the Elite Round which is being hosted in England between 23 and 28 March.

And the two sides have already met once this season, when Portugal edged a 1-0 win at Burton Albion last August.

Along with Russia and Slovenia, only one team from the four will progress to May’s European Championship Finals in Slovakia.

Peacock has had to make two changes to his initial squad, with Spurs midfielder Harry Winks replacing Manchester City's Kean Bryan and defender Kasey Palmer of Charlton Athletic replacing Riccardo Calder of Aston Villa.

Chelsea midfielder Charlie Colkett has also been ruled out of the tournament through injury.