Stars on show
Saturday, 08 August, 2009
England starlets in action at the Hawthorns next Tuesday.
England U20s go into action for the final time before their trip to September’s World Cup on Tuesday evening, when they take on Montenegro at West Bromwich Albion.
With the competition now just over a month away, U20s Head Coach Brian Eastick has selected a squad which he hopes will be largely available for him to take to Egypt.
Amongst the squad are several players who have picked up considerable experience with their clubs in the last few seasons and now looking to push their way into the Under-21 squad.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is one player who has rose to prominence in the last 12 months by featuring for Arsene Wenger’s first team squad and also playing for England at U17 and U19 level. He is now making the step-up to U20s level, along with a number of other players.
“Jack Wilshere is a real talent and we think he’ll be knocking on the door of the U20 and Under-21 teams this year,” said Eastick.
“But if you look at the squad, there’s a bit of a mixture and there are some that have been in the system, some that have just come back from Ukraine with the U19s and one or two that we want to have a look at.”
With the World Cup, where England will take on Uruguay, Ghana and Uzbekistan in the group stage, taking place after the start of the domestic season, the chances of a full strength England team travelling are slim with clubs wanting to hold on to any players in or even around their squad.
But Eastick believes the squad he has for this game may have a decent chance of being involved and wants to use Tuesday’s game as a tester for the challenges ahead.
“Most of those players, we would like to think, will be available to travel to Egypt if selected,” he added.
“It’s going to be a fantastic experience to go and play against Uruguay, Ghana and Uzbekistan in Egypt.
"If they’re going to go on and be top international players, this is as close as they’re ever going to get to a World Cup.”
The Squad
Goalkeepers
Declan Rudd (Norwich City) Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)
Defenders
Kyle Walker (Sheffield Utd (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)), Joe Bennett (Middlesbrough), Sam Hutchinson (Chelsea)**, Martin Kelly (Liverpool), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Ben Mee (Manchester City)
Midfielders
Jordan Henderson (Sunderland), Ross Jenkins (Watford), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)****, Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Chelsea), Adam Clayton (Manchester City)
Forwards
Sam Baldock (MK Dons)***, Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)*, Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading).
* Withdrawn and replaced by Tope Obadeyi of Bolton Wanderers,
** Withdrawn and replaced by Javan Vidal of Manchester City.
*** Withdrawn and replaced by Febian Brandy of Manchester United.
**** Withdrawn and placed into Under-21 squad
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