Gareth Southgate will have been impressed with what he saw from Lee Carsley’s under 21 side as they cruised past Israel with a 2-0 win to book their place in the quarter-finals. The England manager was keen to keep a close eye on the blossoming youngsters having managed the same group for three years before making the step up to the first team.
After a thumping 7-0 win over North Macedonia signed off the season in style, the manager has a clear idea of how his squad will look over the next year. But with an emphasis on bringing youth through to provide a positive future for the Three Lions, we’ve taken a look at a handful of youngsters that could have caught his eye as he plans for Euro 2024 next summer.
Levi Colwill (CB)
Let’s focus on England’s weaker positions. Apart from John Stones, no centre-back looks convincing at club level at this moment in time and although Harry Maguire has never put a foot wrong for his country, if his lack of club football continues next term, it will be difficult to vouch for him in an England shirt.
Marc Guehi and Tyrone Mings currently look like the next viable options, but Levi Colwill could make the step up to the first team, and challenge for a place in the starting XI. The 20-year-old has enjoyed two hugely successful loans, firstly at Huddersfield Town in the Championship, and then with Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League.
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He was a key member of the team that finished 6th last term and Brighton would love to sign him on a permanent basis. However, Chelsea are making plans to involve him in the first team under Mauricio Pochettino and if he can guarantee himself game time, he will become an obvious choice for the England manager.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (CB)
The other half of the centre-back duo that has kept two clean sheets from two so far. Harwood-Bellis enjoyed the best season of his career to date having been loaned from Manchester City to Burnley, who stormed the Championship and will be playing Premier League football next term.
There’s not many former players you’d rather be taught by than Vincent Kompany as an up and coming centre-back and reportedly City only want £15m to sell him permanently this summer, given his contract expires in 2024. If he can become a mainstay in Burnley’s defence in the top flight, or get his first Premier League loan, his stock will only rise for club and country.
Ben Johnson (LB)
Another problem position for England. Beyond Luke Shaw they only have a semi-permanently injured Ben Chilwell as competition and behind that - perhaps Rico Henry? An up-and-coming youngster to challenge that position would be beneficial and Johnson started against Israel last time out.
With all the physical attributes to succeed, Johnson just needs consistent first team football for West Ham to continue his development. The Europa League next term could be brilliant for him on a personal level, as he is now 23 and needs to kick on.
Curtis Jones (CM)
England are well-stacked in attacking positions, which is why it will be tough for the likes of Noni Madueke or Emile Smith Rowe to break through. However, in central midfield, things are not quite as set in stone. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are guaranteed starters and Trent Alexander-Arnold is making a name for himself in his new role.
But Jordan Henderson is getting on, and perhaps there’s room for another energetic Liverpool midfielder in the squad. Jones has developed nicely as a footballer, but the concern is his gametime will drop as Liverpool bring in more reinforcements in that area. For England’s U21 he continues to impress, but the 22-year-old has to impress Jurgen Klopp to have any hope of breaking into Southgate’s squad in the future.
Images courtesy of UEFA.com
