After scoring in the 3-0 Euro qualifying win over Belarus on Friday, U19s forward Patrick Roberts said he feels at home in the England set up.
The Fulham forward netted in between Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s opener and Bradley Fewster’s 66th-minute penalty as Sean O’Driscoll’s side eased to victory in Luxembourg.
The Young Lions face the host nation in their second group game, on Sunday, and will complete their campaign against Belgium on Wednesday.
England 3-0 Belarus
UEFA U19 European Championship
First Qualifying Round
Friday 10 October
Op Flor - Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Along with current team-mates Freddie Woodman and Izzy Brown, Roberts was a key member of the side that won the U17 Euros in May, and he has not been daunted by the step up in age groups.
He said: “There are excellent players in every England team from the U16s right up to the seniors, so it’s not difficult to click with them.
“We all feel at home in this squad, not just me, Izzy and Freddie, but everyone. We’re all good players and we enjoy playing with each other.”
Roberts was a constant threat to the Belarus backline, creating an opportunity almost every time he cut inside on his left foot. He missed two chances to double England’s lead in the first half following impressive solo runs, and he also sent a side volley just wide of the far post early in the second half.
But it appeared only a matter of time before he got himself on the scoresheet – and he provided his side’s second goal on 53 minutes.
And he was happy with how his team-mates dominated proceedings throughout.
Roberts added: “We knew it would be tough because every team wants to beat England. We knew they would be good at set pieces, they’d be physical and they had a good striker up front, but we stuck to our game plan and it worked.
“We kept moving the ball, kept trying to create chances and in the end it was a deserved result.
“We had a few chances before Ruben scored and I thought their keeper played really well actually. The goal was always going to come, it was just a matter of when.”
He continued: “We are still getting used to each other so hopefully we will have gelled more by Sunday. We want to keep progressing and getting better as we go on.
“Luxembourg will want to beat us, especially with them being at home so that will be a bit of a different challenge but we won’t be fazed by that.”
“The goal was always going to come, it was just a matter of when”
Roberts on win over Belarus
This is Roberts’ second experience of Euro qualifying inside 12 months, having helped the U17s progress from the same stage in Armenia last October, and he said he feels comfortable in the environment.
He said: “We have done this all before. Last year [the U17s] were in Armenia trying to qualify for the elites and we played similar sides that wanted to beat us and wanted to make it tough for us.
“We kind of know what to expect now because we have done it before – and we’ve also got a finals tournament under our belts as well, so nothing surprises us.”
And he reserved a final word for his new boss, O’Driscoll: “He’s been very good. I really like him.
“He gives us a lot of freedom on the pitch, especially in the final third. He is very good tactically as well so that’s a great combination.
“He’s putting the onus on the players more which is great.”
