Monday, October 10, 2016

England U21 v Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 preview: Fringe players to get chance to impress

Jack Grealish is expected to start for England U21s on Tuesday
Jack Grealish is expected to start for England U21s on Tuesday

Interim England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd is set to rotate his squad to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday __with European Championship qualification already secured.

Leicester's Demarai Gray scored his first goal for the U21s in their 1-0 victory in Kazakhstan on Thursday to seal progress to next year's tournament in Poland.

He is expected to start again when they host Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final Group 9 game at Walsall, although changes are expected elsewhere.

Demarai Gray moved to Leicester City from Birmingham City in January this year
Demarai Gray moved to Leicester City from Birmingham City in January this year

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"We'll have a look at a few players who haven't had as many starts, and sprinkle it __with a few more regular team players and just start to think about the European Championships," Boothroyd said.

"A lot can happen between now and next May and that's why it is important that all the players get looked at and all the players believe they can make the team.

"The culture of the U21s is we don't stand still and we look to get better and better all the time."

Grealish is expected to feature for Aidy Boothroyd
Grealish is expected to feature for Aidy Boothroyd's side

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish is expected to start at the Banks's Stadium after missing the trip to Kazakhstan with an ankle problem.

Wolves' Dominic Iorfa is available after injury but Leicester defender Ben Chilwell is out.

Jesse Lingard stepped up from the U21s to the senior side to face Malta
Jesse Lingard stepped up from the U21s to the senior side to face Malta

Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard made his senior debut in Saturday's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Malta at Wembley after playing for interim boss Gareth Southgate for the U21s and Boothroyd believes Gray and others can follow him.

"They [Leicester] have proved that anything is possible," he said. "When you look at some of the players who have played in the under-21 group, they have pushed on to bigger and better things in terms of their clubs and at senior level as well."

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