16 October 2023 , 10:49
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Gareth Southgate has a strong track record of promoting players from England’s U21 ranks.
Young Lions chief Lee Carsley led the kids to victory in the Euros in the summer and has already assembled a new squad for the biennial tournament - bolstered by at least six stars still eligible from the last cycle.
The nature of the under-21 coaching job is primarily to produce kids that can step up to the seniors - even if that weakens the secondary task of winning the UEFA tournaments. But in the last year, they’ve collaborated to do both, with another crop eager to catch Southgate’s eye.
Part of the lure of leaving a club environment to join up with England is that Southgate is overseeing it all, monitoring the age groups, discussing them weekly with age group coaches, and tracking our best kids' progress.
Carsley’s lads beat Serbia 9-1 last week in a ruthless show full of Premier League quality. The pace, power and fitness of England's kids was far superior, and bodes well for the future.
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So who are the main candidates for a call up to the seniors, and could anyone make a late rush for a place at the Euros next summer?
Rico Lewis
The 18 year old Manchester City kid is the next big thing, already trusted by Pep Guardiola and now pivotal for the under-21s. His rising star was demonstrated last week when he was invited to mix with the senior squad in the gym for keep ups and skill work. A gentle introduction, but he will continue to grow up fast, having played above his age group since his early teens.
He forged a great partnership down the right with Noni Madueke against Serbia. England are blessed with excellent right backs including Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander Arnold, but the first two are getting on, and TAA a potential midfielder too. Lewis is next in line, especially if Guardiola continues to find him top level experience at City.
Man City's Rico Lewis along with Noni Madueke of ChelseaNoni Madueke
The Chelsea winger is ambitious and serious about his career. He has been working with FA performance analyst James Ryder to finesse his touch in front of goal. He has studied Kylian Mbappe and Mo Salah’s finishing touches, and wants to add goals to his game - like the two he slotted in against Serbia.
Madueke is a veteran of the Under-21s, winning summer campaign, and a star show in the new line up. His slick, rangy stride and clever angles open up sides, and he’ll be high on Southgate’s list of possible senior call ups.
Although he will also face competition from Newcastle ’s Anthony Gordon, a mainstay of the Euro championship side and producing top performances every week on Tyneside, but now too old for the under-21s. The problem is Madueke has yet to start a game for Chelsea this season, something he will be keen to rectify as he moves his career to another level.
Harvey Elliott
Liverpool ’s all-action midfielder is finding it tough to get game time and nail down regular Premier starts. Competition is fierce in the Anfield engine room, but he’s only 20 and time is on his side.
He’s played every minute of Liverpool's Europa League and League Cup games this season, and showed two-goal excellence against Serbia. Playing for the under-21s showcases his talent, as he battles for game time at his club.
He has recovered well from injury that wrote off much of the 21-22 season, and can push on to being a sparky cog in the England set up, and earn Jurgen Klopp ’s trust.
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is a regular for Lee Carsley's sideJames Trafford
The Burnley keeper had kept six clean sheets in a row for the under-21s before conceding against Serbia last week. In total Trafford has kept ten clean sheets in 13 games for his country.
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Transferred from Manchester City in the summer to the newly promoted club side, Trafford, 21, has the perfect platform to turn in heroic performances. Key to his promotion is the experience he is getting in the top flight at such a young age.
Rivals Jordan Pickford and Sam Johnstone are 29, and 30, peak age for keepers, and Aaron Ramsdale, 25, is out of the picture for Arsenal. Trafford is a modern keeper, good with his feet, plays very advanced sweeping up like a centre half, and will get his senior chance soon enough.