England U21 announce squad for March 2024 Euro U21 qualifiers; Kobbie Mainoo gets maiden call-up

Kobbie Mainoo received first call-up for England U21 matches

In the U21 EURO 2025 qualifiers in March, Lee Carsley has selected his England men’s under-21 team to play against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.The Young Lions’ first game is scheduled for Friday, March 22 in Baku. On Tuesday, March 26, they will play Luxembourg at Bolton Wanderers FC on home soil.Additionally, the head coach has selected a 24-man roster for the matches, which includes a few fresh names at the MU21 level.

Teden Mengi, a defender for Luton Town, is called up for the first time to the MU21s after making appearances for the MU17, MU18, and MU20 levels. Meanwhile, midfielders Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Carney Chukwuemeka of Chelsea, Alex Scott of AFC Bournemouth, and Archie Grey of Leeds United are all making their first appearances for the MU21s, having become constants for England’s younger age group teams.Morgan Rogers, who moved from Middlesbrough to Aston Villa in January, also has a first MU21s slot. Rogers is an additional player who has previously earned caps at the MU17, MU20, and U21 levels.

The MU21s will play the inaugural matches of 2024 after winning 3-0 at Goodison Park against Northern Ireland and Serbia in November of last year.

Kobbie Mainoo, a midfielder for Manchester United, was recently selected for the England under-21 team for their forthcoming Euro qualifying matches.The 18-year-old, who has made a name for himself in United’s first team this season, was left out of Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad on Thursday.

This year, Mainoo has participated in 22 games across all competitions, totalling two goals and two assists.

When asked why Kobbie Mainoo had not been named in the senior squad, Southgate said: “I think that he’s doing brilliantly for a young player and we’re never slow to put a young player into seniors.

“But he’s only had a handful of games and you have to be very careful development-wise in making those decisions at the right time.

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“So we think ideally, we should allow him that space to develop at his own speed. He’s not at the point in terms of number of games that Jude (Bellingham) and Bukayo (Saka) were when they came in for the first time.

“But I repeat, he’s doing really well for a young player. He’s a good footballer, you can see that. And he’s getting some fabulous experience with Manchester United at the moment. And he looks a really good character.”

England U21 squad ahead of Euro qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Matthew Cox (Bristol Rovers, loan from Brentford), Sam Tickle (Wigan Athletic), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), Callum Doyle (Leicester City, loan from Manchester City), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton, loan from Manchester City), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Teden Mengi (Luton Town), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Millwall, loan from Arsenal), Nathan Wood (Swansea City)

Midfielders: Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), James McAtee (Sheffield United, loan from Manchester City), Tyler Morton (Hull City, loan from Liverpool), Archie Gray (Leeds United), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)

Forwards: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City, loan from Fulham), Sam Iling-Junior (Juventus), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Jaden Philogene (Hull City), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

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