Published 18 March 2022 4 min read
Men's Elite League Squad
England MU20s squad named for Poland and Germany games
The Young Lions face a trip to Poland before welcoming Germany to Colchester in March's international window
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England men’s under-20s are back in action this month with two games against Poland and Germany.
Young Lions head coach Andy Edwards has named a 22-man squad for the matches, which begins with a trip to face Poland in Bielsko-Biala on Friday 25 March before they return to home soil for a game against Germany in Colchester on Tuesday 29 March (7.30pm BST).
The season so far for the MU20s has seen impressive victories over Romania and Czech Republic, a draw with Italy and a defeat against Portugal last time out in November.
The season so far for the MU20s has seen impressive victories over Romania and Czech Republic, a draw with Italy and a defeat against Portugal last time out in November.
And among the squad are a few new faces, as Edwards looks to assess the talent at his disposal. As a result, there are first international call-ups for West Brom defender Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James, Blackburn Rovers forward Tyrhys Dolan, Luke Plange, who is currently on loan at Derby from Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer, who's also out on loan in the Championship with Preston North End.
“For us, 2022 is something of a talent identification year,” revealed Edwards, ahead of the meet-up.
“We’re looking at players who are in the pathway, and players who can come in. Historically, it has proved a very good age group for development.
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“These players are all at different stages of their career but a lot of them are playing first team football now, whether that’s in the Championship, League One or on the periphery of clubs in the Premier League.
“These games are a chance for these players to show how far they’ve come and how far they can go.”
Tickets for the match against Germany at the JobServe Community Stadium are on sale now, priced at £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Harvey Cartwright (Hull City), Charlie Setford (Ajax), James Trafford (Bolton Wanderers, loan from Manchester City)
Defenders: Ajibola Alese (West Ham United), Taylor Gardner-Hickman (West Bromwich Albion), James Hill (AFC Bournemouth), Kaine Kesler-Hayden (MK Dons, loan from Aston Villa), Clinton Mola (VFB Stuttgart), Nathanael Ogbeta (Swansea City)*, Nathan Wood (Middlesbrough)
Midfielders: Faustino Anjorin (Huddersfield Town, loan from Chelsea), Leighton Clarkson (Liverpool)**, Jordan James (Birmingham City), James McAtee (Manchester City), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Daniel Neil (Sunderland)
Midfielders: Faustino Anjorin (Huddersfield Town, loan from Chelsea), Leighton Clarkson (Liverpool)**, Jordan James (Birmingham City), James McAtee (Manchester City), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Daniel Neil (Sunderland)
Forwards: Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers), Sam Greenwood (Leeds United), Luke Plange (Derby County, loan from Crystal Palace), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Crystal Palace)
* Replaces Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland)
** Replaces Lewis Bate (Leeds United)
*** Jaden Philogene-Bidace (Stoke City, loan from Aston Villa) has withdrawn
**** Cameron Archer (Preston North End, loan from Aston Villa) has withdrawn