Lee Carsley has officially announced his first England Under-21 squad since resuming his role as head coach. This announcement comes ahead of two crucial friendly matches against France and Portugal, set to take place on 21st March and 24th March respectively. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and fresh faces, showcasing the depth of talent in England's youth ranks.

Key Players to Watch

• Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton): A solid defender who has been a consistent performer for his club.
• Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace): A dynamic midfielder known for his vision and passing accuracy.
• Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund): A winger with explosive speed and dribbling skills.
• Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal): A young forward with a knack for finding the back of the net.
• Liam Delap (Ipswich Town): A striker with a powerful shot and excellent positioning.

First-Time Call-Ups

Several players have received their first call-ups to the U21 squad, including:

• Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Goalkeeper): On loan from Chelsea to Doncaster Rovers.
• CJ Egan-Riley (Defender): A promising talent from Burnley.
• Dennis Cirkin (Defender): Known for his defensive solidity at Sunderland.

Full Squad List

Goalkeepers:

• James Beadle (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion)
• Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Doncaster Rovers, on loan from Chelsea)
• Tommy Simkin (Walsall, on loan from Stoke City)

Defenders:

• Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
• Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland)
• Charlie Cresswell (FC Toulouse)
• CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley)
• Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)
• Rico Lewis (Manchester City)

Midfielders:

• Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
• Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland)
• Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
• Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough)
• Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion)
• Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)
• Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards:

• Liam Delap (Ipswich Town)
• Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
• Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town)
• Sam Iling-Junior (Middlesbrough, on loan from Aston Villa)
• James McAtee (Manchester City)
• Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
• Jaden Philogene (Ipswich Town)
• Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City)

These matches will be a great opportunity for the young talents to prove their worth on the international stage and potentially earn a spot in the senior team in the future.