Hills' squad selection

Brent Hills has named his England U21 squad to face France at Exeter later this month, where all eyes will be on the Young Lions as they seek to stake their claim in the build up to the World Cup.

The game will be the first game on home soil since Hope Powell's senior side made it to China with a dramatic draw against France in September.

A number of the players involved at St. James' Park were part of the squad that secured qualification including Jill Scott, Siobhan Chamberlain Lianne Sanderson.

Brent told TheFA.com: "We haven't played France at U21 level previously, so when we got the opportunity to play them we had to take it, because you know you're going to play quality opposition.

"Over the last four years, particularly at U19 level, you could argue that they are the strongest in Europe with their record."

Brent was also keen to stress how important this game was for the players in pressing their credentials ahead of the World Cup.

"It's certainly an opportunity for players, if you look back to Alex Scott and Anita Asante in 2005, they were two players who used the U21s as a stepping stone to make it to Euro 2005.

"When we started the U21 team in 2004 we felt it was a vital cog that was missing in the player development pathway and it is now vital.

"Since the team has been in place there have been a number of players cement their place in the senior squad based on their performances in the U21s, and I'm sure that is set to continue."

Here is the full squad: