'To play for England at your own club is really special'

Tosin Adarabioyo is hoping for an “amazing” experience when he and his fellow Young Lions roar into Manchester on Sunday.

The centre-half is part of Aidy Boothroyd’s England Under-19s squad that is in Holland ahead of Thursday’s first match of a double-header week.

And although he is relishing the challenge of facing the Dutch, the Manchester City centre-half admits to feeling the excitement at the prospect of representing his country at his club’s Academy Stadium against Japan on Sunday.

“It’s always good to be able to play at home when you’re playing for the national team, but to be able to do it at your own club’s stadium is really special,” said the 18-year-old.

“We’ve got a squad full of exciting players who are great to watch, so supporters should enjoy a great game at our stadium. 

“I hope as many people as possible will come down to support us, but to see lots of City fans supporting us in the Academy Stadium would be amazing.”

Speaking to MCFC.co.uk, the Mancunian added: “I’m delighted to be called up to the U19s squad. It’s always an honour to be called up to play for your country.  

"It will hopefully be a good challenge for me to play against Holland and Japan and I hope we get the wins.

“I think it will be a tough game against Japan. Although I don’t know too much about them, the Asian teams we have faced have combined well, worked hard and played really well as a team. It should be a really good challenge for us, but we’ll obviously be looking to come out with the win.”

Tosin Adarabioyo is relishing the prospect of playing at the Academy Stadium

Adarabioyo did not feature in Boothroyd’s squad that qualified for the European Championship Elite Round in October, but he hopes to use these two games to cement his position in the head coach’s plans.

And that is not his only aim on the international front.

“I’d like to stay in this squad for the rest of the season, be able to go to the Euros and then hopefully go on and win it. That’s the aim, definitely,” he explained.

“Although I didn’t play in the qualifiers with the u19s, I don’t feel I have more to prove to stay in the squad. 

"The England staff watch a lot of games, so hopefully I’ve proved to them I’m good enough to be here and if I can carry on performing the way I know I can and then hopefully I will get the nod.”