Young Lions to take on Brazil, USA and Russia in an U17 tournament on home soil

England U17s return to action on home soil this month, when they host a four nations tournament featuring Brazil, Russia and USA.

Steve Cooper’s side will kick-off against USA at the Swansway Chester Stadium on Friday 12 October (7pm).

The Young Lions will then host Russia at Montgomery Waters Meadow Stadium in Shrewsbury on Sunday 14 October (1pm) before playing Brazil in their final game at AFC Telford United’s New Bucks Head Stadium on Tuesday 16 October (7pm).

As the top-ranked team in UEFA’s coefficient, England have received a bye into the elite qualifying round of the 2019 Euros, with those matches taking place in March.

Cooper has selected a 21-strong squad for the tournament, for which tickets are on sale for just £3 for adults and £1 for children via each club’s respective box office.

Among the squad are a number of players who featured for England U16s last term, and there is also a first U17s call-up for Fulham midfielder Harvey Elliott, who recently made his first-team debut for the Cottagers.

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U17s head coach Cooper with Mike Marsh last season

"This tournament will be the first time this squad has played in stadiums for England and it's a great opportunity for them to get the experience of playing in front of crowds," said Cooper.

"It's extra special for them as we're playing these games in England, with home support, and as we work towards qualifying for next summer's Euros it's a great chance for them to play on a bigger stage, get used to crowds and get used to playing for England.

"We have three exciting and tough games lined up. We're playing teams with different styles and from different continents. Given we have a bye into the elite qualifying rounds, these matches were important in testing the players, and in Brazil and USA and Russia's U18s, we have secured excellent opposition.

"It's early on in the season and we're still working with the players to educate them on how we want them to play and behave. We're always working with the end in mind, which is getting them eventually ready for our senior team - we have one eye on the future and never lose sight of that."

Fans can also watch the non-England games of the tournament, with Nantwich Town hosting Russia v Brazil on Friday 12 October (7pm) and Brazil v USA on Sunday 14 October (5pm). USA v Russia will take place at Witton Albion’s Wincham Park on Tuesday 16 October (7pm).

The squad

Alexander Mighten (Nottingham Forest), Armstrong Oko-Flex (Celtic), Ben Knight (Manchester City), Dennis Cirkin (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabio Carvalho (Fulham), Haydon Roberts (Brighton & Hove Albion), Harvey Elliott (Fulham), James Trafford (Manchester City), Jensen Weir (Wigan Athletic), Joseph Gelhardt (Wigan Athletic), Joseph Hodge (Manchester City), Louis Moulden (Manchester City), Miguel Azeez (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (West Bromwich Albion), Nathan Wood-Gordon (Middlesbrough), Sam Greenwood (Arsenal), Serrine Sanneh (West Ham United)*, Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City), Teden Mengi (Manchester United), Valentino Livramento (Chelsea), Yunus Musah (Arsenal)

*Training goalkeeper