England MU21s squad to play France and Croatia
Lee Carsley has picked his Young Lions squad for their double-header on home soil in March
ENGLAND MU21s: FIND OUT MORE
The England men’s under-21s squad has been named to face fellow EURO finalists France and Croatia in March’s international window.
Lee Carsley has picked a 26-player group for the two matches on home soil, as they look to build up their preparations for this summer’s U21 EURO Finals in Romania and Georgia.
It's the squad’s first meeting since last September when they enjoyed a 3-1 win over Germany in Sheffield and a 2-0 victory against Italy in Pescara.
This month, the Young Lions will head to Leicester City’s King Power Stadium to play France on Saturday 25 March (5pm GMT) before they grace another Premier League venue in Fulham’s Craven Cottage when Croatia are the visitors on Tuesday 28 March (7.45pm BST).
Tickets for both of those games are on sale now, so click here for the France game or click here for the Croatia game.
Carsley’s squad includes a first international call-up at any level for Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson while defender Rico Lewis comes into the group from the MU19s after an impressive few months at Manchester City.
Jarrad Branthwaite, currently enjoying a loan spell from Everton with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, also receives his first MU21s call-up having previously been capped at MU20s level in 2021.
Highlights: England MU21s 3-1 Germany
Watch the best of the action from Bramall Lane in the Young Lions' last game
Goalkeepers: Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion), Anthony Patterson (Sunderland), Carl Rushworth (Lincoln City, loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), James Trafford (Bolton Wanderers, loan from Manchester City)
Defenders: Max Aarons (Norwich City), Jarrad Branthwaite (PSV Eindhoven, loan from Everton), Levi Colwill (Brighton & Hove Albion, loan from Chelsea), Charlie Cresswell (Millwall, loan from Leeds United), Ben Johnson (West Ham United), Rico Lewis (Manchester City) Djed Spence (Stadde De Rennes, loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Thomas (Leicester City)
Midfielders: Tommy Doyle (Sheffield United, loan from Manchester City), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), James Garner (Everton), Angel Gomes (Lille), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), James McAtee (Sheffield United, loan from Manchester City), Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa), Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards: Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough, loan from Aston Villa), Folarin Balogun (Stade De Reims, loan from Arsenal), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Manchester City), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
