A number of former Apprentices have been named in the Endland Under 21 squad that will take on Iceland and Belgium in the upcoming European Championship qualifying fixtures.
Manager Stuart Pearce has opted to include five new faces in his 25-man squad three of which are Nathanial Clyne (Crystal Palace), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & HA) and Jacob Butterfield (Barnsley) who all graduated from the ASE programme.
Other former Apprentices to be called up to represent the Young Lions are Ryan Bennett (Peterborough United), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) and Connor Wickham (Sunderland).
Whilst the standby list features further LFE notables in Dan Gosling (Newcastle United), Declan Rudd (Norwich City) and Jonjo Shelvey (Blackpool – on loan from Liverpool).
On 10 November the squad will compete against Iceland in Group 8 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in Colchester and on 14 November will contest against Belgium on foreign soil.
“Their attitude [the squad] is fantastic, and in this clutch of players we have some very solid individuals, who have a great approach and a great attitude,” said Pearce.
“We’re fortunate that we got two tricky away games out of the way, but we have to maximise that at home and make sure there are no slip-ups. With only one team certain of a place in the play-offs, dropping any points in the group puts you under real pressure,” he added.
The England Under 21 squad to face Iceland and Belgium is:
Goalkeepers
Ben Amos (Manchester United), Jack Butland (Cheltenham Town – on loan from Birmingham City), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)
Defenders
Nathan Baker (Aston Villa), Ryan Bennett (Peterborough United), Matthew Briggs (Fulham), Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace), Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), Martin Kelly (Liverpool), Adam Smith (MK Dons – on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders
Ross Barkley (Everton), Jacob Butterfield (Barnsley), Tom Carroll (Tottenham Hotspur), Gary Gardner (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McEachran (Chelsea), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton)
Forwards
Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Alex Nimely (Middlesbrough – on loan from Manchester City), Marvin Sordell (Watford), Connor Wickham (Sunderland)
Standby List
Joe Bennett (Middlesbrough), Declan Rudd (Norwich City), Jonjo Shelvey (Blackpool – on loan from Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Dan Gosling (Newcastle United)
