England U16s have touched down in Sarasota as they begin their preparations for the USA Nike Tournament - an “Opportunity impossible to turn down” according to Head Coach Kenny Swain.
The squad arrived on Wednesday afternoon and have spent the last few days acclimatising at the team base ahead of their mouth-watering opening game against Brazil on Monday.
Swain and his 18-man squad will face the Samba Boys before they tackle the host nation on Wednesday, finishing their trip with a tie against Portugal on Friday, and Swain cannot wait to get the action under way.
Kenny Swain
"For the kids to get this opportunity, they may never get another to play against Brazil"
He said: “It is a key event that we really want to give our players some exposure in and will be fantastic to be involved in.
“We don’t play the USA often and we certainly don’t play Brazil.
“Just the status of the nation, in football terms, it is a fantastic opportunity for everyone.
"For the kids to get this opportunity, they may never get another to play against Brazil even if they go on to become top class footballers.”
Charlie Wakefield is included in Swain's squad
The test facing the Young Lions can only help their progression – which is naturally the most important factor for Swain.
England recently lost 1-0 to Scotland, which saw them relinquish the Sky Sports Victory Shield, but the former Aston Villa man was pleased the players had the opportunity for further development.
“The Scotland game was a really difficult game for us, but the challenge has really racked up a few notches now.
"We have to come out here any put on a performance and push the players on to develop them a little bit further.
“It will be a great challenge for everybody.”
With a full squad of players to choose from, Swain added that he will be giving them all an opportunity to impress.
“Strategy is a major part of this role, so results are always in the back of your mind, but you still have to give people opportunities.
"Even when sometimes you think ‘I don’t really want to do that’ at a certain stage of the game, it would be unfair on the players.
The England U16s will face Brazil, USA and Portugal
“We don’t have a top 18 of players as such, we have a large pool, so it would be unfair not to give them an opportunity of how the games are going.”
England U16 squad:
Alfie Whiteman (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ryan Sandford (Millwall)
Connor King (Burnley)
Trent Arnold (Liverpool)
Cameron Humphreys (Manchester City)
Reece Oxford (West Ham)
Daniel Collinge (MK Dons)
Ro-Shaun Williams (Manchester United)
Jay Da Silva (Chelsea)
Ben Sheaf (West Ham)
Will Patching (Manchester City)
Callum Gribbin (Manchester United)
Foday Naby (Fulham)
Adam Philips (Liverpool)
Christopher Willock (Arsenal)
Charlie Wakefield (Chelsea)
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Aston Villa)
Kaylen Hinds (Arsenal)
Marcus Edwards (Tottenham Hotspur)
Layton N’dukwu (Leicester City)
