When was the last time we had a player in the England U21 team? We used to have a few but with a dry spell in our academy, it seems like ages. Last I can remember was Alex Nimely being called up then dropping out due to injury (story of his career).
We are always having them called up at younger groups, but the U21 team is the last step to the senior team and it would be nice if some could get a call-up.
Hiwula, Evans, Facey, Leigh and Glendon are five players at the age where they could be called up, but none seem close at the moment. Only one has been playing senior football lately (Leigh who has been in and out of the Crewe side), soon be be two (Hiwula), and that is probably a factor. I really thought Evans could have pushed on to this level by now, but he's back playing reserve football for us instead of in the Football League.
A little younger you have Gunn, Bryan, Smith-Brown, Barker, Boadu, Adarabioyo and some others who seem to be regularly called up for the younger groups so hopefully some of those make the U21 side in future.
The next squad:
We are always having them called up at younger groups, but the U21 team is the last step to the senior team and it would be nice if some could get a call-up.
Hiwula, Evans, Facey, Leigh and Glendon are five players at the age where they could be called up, but none seem close at the moment. Only one has been playing senior football lately (Leigh who has been in and out of the Crewe side), soon be be two (Hiwula), and that is probably a factor. I really thought Evans could have pushed on to this level by now, but he's back playing reserve football for us instead of in the Football League.
A little younger you have Gunn, Bryan, Smith-Brown, Barker, Boadu, Adarabioyo and some others who seem to be regularly called up for the younger groups so hopefully some of those make the U21 side in future.
The next squad:
Goalkeepers: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Sam Johnstone (Manchester United).
Defenders: Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Garbutt (Everton), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham United, on loan from Arsenal), Michael Keane (Burnley, on loan from Manchester United), Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Newcastle United), Liam Moore (Leicester City), Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Lewis Baker (Chelsea), Tom Carroll (Swansea City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Hughes (Derby County), Thomas Ince (Hull City), Alex Pritchard (Brentford, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City).
Forwards: Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough, on loan from Chelsea), Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Cauley Woodrow (Fulham).