The future of English football has never looked brighter after England won the Under-21 European Championships for the first time since 1984.
Lee Carsley’s side is full of exciting talents across the pitch, with each of them hoping to catch the eye of the watching Gareth Southgate, who was present at the final in Georgia.
Southgate has handed out international debuts to 56 different players since he first took charge in September 2016 with the most recent example being Eberechi Eze against Malta back in June.
With that in mind, i has taken a look at the players who could be rewarded with their first senior cap for their country in the coming months.
James Trafford
Age: 20
Club: Manchester City
Position: Goalkeeper
Standing 6ft 6in tall, Trafford was undoubtedly the hero of the final, saving a last-minute penalty followed by another block to prevent any late heartbreak.
Trafford has spent the past 18 months out on loan at League One side Bolton Wanderers, making 45 appearances in the last season alone.
It is evident that the 20-year-old is a product of the Manchester City academy which has thrived in recent years, having not conceded a goal throughout the entire competition, the first time a goalkeeper has done this in the tournament’s history.
No wonder Burnley have apparently broken their transfer record to sign him despite the fact he has never played a single game in the Premier League.
Not only does he boast a safe pair of hands but he is also comfortable with the ball at his feet, displaying confidence and initiative to show himself as an option when the defence is being pressed, as well as being able to snuff out danger at a moment’s notice.
Levi Colwill
Age: 20
Club: Chelsea
Position: Centre-back
Chelsea loanee Colwill demonstrated his class for Brighton last season, playing in the centre of a defence which kept 12 clean sheets in the top flight overall.
He possesses a maturity beyond his years, able to pick out a pass under pressure with ease, while at the same time never seeming to be rushed on the ball.
Brighton have reportedly submitted a £30m bid to sign Colwill from Chelsea but making the loan move permanent is unlikely as Mauricio Pochettino has made his admiration of the player public.
“He is a Chelsea player and in the last few months at Brighton he was playing really well,” he said.
“I need to get a feel for him. I need to hear what he has in mind, what he expects. And then of course for him to listen to what I expect from him.”
Angel Gomes
Age: 22
Club: Lille
Position: Midfielder
Now plying his trade in Ligue 1, some may have missed the development of Gomes from an attacking midfielder to a deep-lying playmaker.
Ironically he may well have been the perfect fit for Erik ten Hag‘s system had he decided not to leave Manchester in 2020.
Despite his small stature, Gomes has been best utilised as a No 6 during his time playing for the U21s.
And while that might seem like a disadvantage to some, he is able to evade the opposition press using his low centre of gravity.
He also isn’t afraid to get stuck in when it really matters, whether that be throwing himself into tackles or taking players on one-by-one.
Curtis Jones
Age: 22
Club: Liverpool
Position: Midfielder
Of course, none of this would arguably have been possible without Jones.
A classic, box-to-box midfielder, big things are expected of the Liverpool youngster, who counts club legend Steven Gerrard among his chief admirers.
Last year Carsley said “I expect more from him” and since then the 22-year-old has come on leaps and bounds as he has stepped up his game for club and country.
His understanding of space in particular has improved, from being on the ball at the right time to playing effectively between the lines.
It’s no surprise then that he was named the player of the match for his performance in the final, and rightly so for that matter.
Morgan Gibbs-White
Age: 23
Club: Nottingham Forest
Position: Midfielder
One of the more experienced members of the squad, Gibbs-White knows more than most about carrying the burden of expectation on his shoulders.
Having signed for Nottingham Forest for £42.5m in 2022, it is fair to say that he has largely justified his expensive price tag with most fans citing him as the main reason for the club staying up last season.
Fortunately for England he replicated his end-of-season form on the international stage, finishing with a tally of one goal and three assists to his name.
Gibbs-White particularly excels as the creator-in-chief, using a wide range of passes to open holes in the opposition’s defence.
With the transfer window officially open for business, it might not be long before clubs come knocking on the door for his signature this summer.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/JhtAeX9
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