Keith Downing has picked a 21-strong squad as England MU20s open their campaign with games against the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The Young Lions kick-off against the Dutch in Shrewsbury on Thursday 5 September, before heading to Basel for their second game of the week against the Swiss.
Downing moves into the U20s head coach role after spending last season as U19s boss, where he worked with a number of the players at his disposal for this campaign.
The former West Bromwich Albion coach believes the U20s age group is a chance for new players to come into the international system, should they break through and impress with their clubs at domestic level.
“We see the U20s as a pathway to the U21s squad and also as an introduction to international football for players who might not have been involved previously,” he explained.
“For some of the squad who have played for our younger teams, playing for the U20s is a continuation of the England pathway.
“But it’s also an age where players start to break into their club teams so it’s an opportunity for new lads who’ve done that and impressed to come in.
“The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lloyd Kelly and Dwight McNeil are examples of players who have come into the system at U20 level in the last couple of years.”
The squad for this month’s games sees a return to the England set-up for defender Joel Latibeaudiere after injury kept him sidelined last season.
And there are first England call-ups for Manchester United left-back Brandon Williams, Wolves midfielder Ryan Giles who is currently on loan at Shrewsbury Town and forward Jack Clarke, who is back on loan at Leeds United having moved to Spurs from Elland Road in the summer.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Josef Bursik (Accrington Stanley, loan from Stoke City), Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion), Thomas McGill (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders: Nathan Ferguson (West Bromwich Albion), Lewis Gibson (Everton), Tariq Lamptey (Chelsea), Joel Latibeaudiere (Manchester City), Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur), Brandon Williams (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town), Conor Gallagher (Charlton Athletic, loan from Chelsea), Ryan Giles (Shrewsbury Town, loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Angel Gomes (Manchester United), Jamie Shackleton (Leeds United), Callum Slattery (Southampton), Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough)
Forwards: Luke Bolton (Luton Town, loan from Manchester City), Jack Clarke (Leeds United, loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Jonathan Leko (Charlton Athletic, loan from West Bromwich Albion), Danny Loader (Reading), Luke Thomas (Barnsley)
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