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Mason Greenwood and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been selected for England’s U21 European Championship campaign this month. The pair, who have played for the senior team, are included for the tournament in Hungary and Slovenia as England look to end a 37-year wait to win the trophy.
Manchester United’s Greenwood has only scored once in 23 league appearances this season, while Hudson-Odoi has struggled to maintain consistency under new Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. Goalkeeper Josh Griffiths, on loan at Cheltenham from West Brom, Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe and Noni Madueke from PSV Eindhoven have secured their first calls, along with Japhet Tanganga from Tottenham.
Despite his lack of action for Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah, who scored the best in the playoffs with 13 goals to become the U21 record scorer, is selected alongside Everton duo Ben Godfrey and Tom Davies, while Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale is expected to be Aidy Boothroyd’s first choice goalkeeper. England open their Group D campaign against Switzerland in Koper on March 25.
Boothroyd said: “I am excited for this group, not only for their ability, but also for their togetherness and team spirit, and I know they will do everything possible to make the country proud.
“I am grateful to Gareth [Southgate] for their support in what we are trying to achieve, and also to the clubs for recognizing the importance of these finals. We want to win every time we play and we will do our best to reach the knockout stage, but this is also a crucial opportunity to provide valuable experience on and off the field that will help the players, their clubs and England in the future. “
England will also face Portugal in Ljubljana on March 28 and Croatia in Koper three days later, with the knockout stages in May and June after the tournament was split due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Fast guide
England team for the group stage of the European Under-21 Championship
Goalkeepers Josef Bursik (Stoke), Josh Griffiths (Cheltenham Town, loan from West Brom), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United)
Defenders Max Aarons (Norwich), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Marc Guehi (Swansea, on loan from Chelsea), Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth), Ryan Sessegnon (Hoffenheim, on loan from Tottenham), Steven Sessegnon (Bristol City, on loan from Fulham) ), Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham), Ben Wilmot (Watford)
Midfielders Tom Davies (Everton), Ebere Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (West Brom, loan from Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Dwight McNeil (Burnley), Oliver Skipp (Norwich, loan from Tottenham)
Forward Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United), Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Noni Madueke (PSV Eindhoven), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
Boothroyd is also unable to select Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala after the forward promised his international future to Germany. The 18-year-old, born in Stuttgart, made two appearances during the U-21 qualifying campaign, scoring on his debut against Albania in November, but made his decision last month.
Leicester’s James Justin is missing after his serious knee injury and there is no place for Norwich’s Todd Cantwell, who hasn’t been on a team since September.
The tournament final takes place on June 6, while the senior European Championship, postponed from last summer, begins five days later, on June 11.
