The Young Lions will meet up at St. George’s Park on Monday to begin their preparations for the match, which will also be Cooper’s first game in charge following his appointment earlier this month.
Wales U16s v England U16s
Sky Sports Victory Shield
7pm, Friday 31 October 2014
Book People Stadium, Bangor City FC
After missing out on the Victory Shield title last season for the first time in 12 years, England begin the 2014 competition at Bangor City’s Book People Stadium.
And there is some Victory Shield experience within Cooper’s squad, with West Brom striker Jonathan Leko, Manchester City midfielder Sadou Diallo and goalkeepers Ryan Sandford of Millwall and Fulham's Taye Ashby-Hammond having featured in last season’s competition.
There are also international caps in the group for West Ham's Vashon Neufville and Southampton midfielder Callum Slattery, who featured at the Nordic Tournament under Cooper's assistant Dan Micciche earlier this summer.
But with two further games to come against Northern Ireland in Dungannon on 7 November and then at Yeovil’s Huish Park against Scotland on 20 November, there are more opportunities for players to take their first steps on the international football ladder.
"At this age group we have to be conscious of the players’ age and it is still very much at looking at the players and their future potential and their performance levels," said former Liverpool Academy coach Cooper.
"We want to create the right environment for the players to develop by playing exciting attractive football that fits into the future of England’s philosophy."
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Taye Ashby-Hammond (Fulham), Ryan Sandford (Millwall).
Defenders: Tolaji Bola (Arsenal), Vashon Neufville (West Ham United), Dujon Sterling (Chelsea), Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur), Lewis Thompson (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Sadou Diallo (Manchester City), Charlie Gilmour (Arsenal), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Callum Slattery (Southampton).
Forwards: Keanan Bennetts (Tottenham Hotspur), Mackenzie Heaney (Newcastle United), Jonathan Leko (West Bromwich Albion), Okera Simmonds (Liverpool), Martell Taylor-Crossdale (Chelsea).
You can see England U16s in action next month at Huish Park in Yeovil, where the Young Lions face 'Auld Enemy' Scotland on Thursday 20 November. Tickets are priced £3 for adults, £1 concessions and can be purchased by calling 01935 847888 or e-mailing ticketoffice@ytfc.net
