England U18s are back in action later this month when they host Belgium at St. George’s Park in their first international fixture of the year.
Head Coach Neil Dewsnip has selected a 16-man squad for the game, although the group has been restricted, with many players still involved in The FA Youth Cup with their clubs.
Dewsnip has named a 16-man squad for the game.
This has seen the likes of Liverpool’s Cameron Brannagan and Ryan Kent and Chelsea duo Alex Kiwomya and Kasey Palmer withdrawn due to their involvement in Fifth Round fixtures.
But that provides opportunities to others to impress and there is a first call-up for Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell.
The squad will meet up at St. George’s Park on Saturday 15 February for training, before they face the Belgians three days later on Tuesday 18 February.
Dewsnip will be assisted by coach Noel Blake and goalkeeping coach Tim Dittmer for the meet-up, which follows on from a three-day training camp at St. George's for the U18s in January.
England U18s were last in action in October, when they faced a double-header with Hungary at the national football centre, with the second game ending in a 4-0 win.
Highlights of the game with Hungary last October.
With no official UEFA or FIFA fixtures scheduled at U18 level, the training and games provide those players with international football inbetween the competitive year groups at U17 and U19 level.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Ted Smith (Southend United), Callum Burton (Shrewsbury Town).
Defenders: Kyle Knoyle (West Ham United), Reece Burke (West Ham United), Brendan Galloway (MK Dons), Ashley Smith-Brown (Manchester City), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City).
Midfielders: Bryn Morris (Middlesbrough), William Miller (Tottenham Hotspur), Reece Brown (Birmingham City), Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Brandon Barker (Manchester City), Dean Rittenberg (Blackburn Rovers), Nathan Oduwa (Tottenham Hotspur)*, Emmanuel Sonupe (Tottenham Hotspur), Bradley Fewster (Middlesbrough).
* Replaces George Green (Everton).
The game with Belgium is to be played behind closed doors for invited guests only.
