England Under 21 Discussions Thread (2004+ born) #8

Thought we might see Mainoo in this one. If he's been offered a place he really should've taken it in his situation.

 

So I take it that Lewis-Skelly with 6 full caps is now too good for the U21’s and therefore joins Mainoo in purgatory until he’s good enough to break back into the seniors whilst still qualifying for the U21’s. This is one of the reasons I don’t like it when we over promote when they are young, if they have a dip which often happens, they end up nowhere. Ok it’s only the first time Lewis-Skelly finds himself in this situation but you get my point.

 

Midfield looks a bit light but I think Lewis could end up playing there.

 

I hate these scenarios Rico Lewis has 5 caps and is in, Lewis Skelly has 6 and isn't, and Mainoo has 10 they should all be in, or all be out, I don't understand the logic.

 

MLS and Mainoo should be in this squad. Minutes are the only valuable resource the FA have and they seem committed to a very casual approach to that fact.

 

GK - Tommy Setford (2006) in for Matthew Young (2006)
DF - Ben Nelson in, Lewis Hall back in after injury last time
MF - Archie Gray out, Lewis Miley back in after injury last time
ATT - Romain Esse and Tom Watson [who were late additions] out

 

Mainoo wasn’t seen traveling with Man United to London today so he might be injured,

 

Kobbie Mainoo confirmed to have a mind injury. Unless Jack Fletcher makes the bench Man United academy record stretching back to 1937 will end.

 

A mind injury? Has he been on a mastermind challenge or something?

 

He's been thinking too much about getting away from united

 

They will probably just put someone on the bench just to continue the record. With 9 player benches really not much pressure not to have some academy player there.

 

Ben Nelson has been stretched off with an ankle injury so I think he is going to unavailable. Who’s next in line?

Simkin was only on bench at Leyton Orient.

 

Lankshear goal

 

🦊 #LCFC | Cifuentes confirms to BBC Sport Leicester that Ben Nelson will be assessed after his injury.

Caleb Okoli also came off injured in the second half with a shoulder injury.

🗣️ "Caleb (Okoli) felt his shoulder on the landing. We need to see how he feels," says… pic.twitter.com/c1FYkuZJD4

— BBC Sport Leicester (@BBCRLSport) November 8, 2025

 

he's got 2 weeks to recover for our next game but can't see how he plays for the U21s

 

Player round up.
Starters - Beadle, Norton-Cuffy, Phillips, Alleyne, Fisher, Nelson, Bellingham, Peck, Mubama
Subbed on, Hall, Small. Miley, King, Gittens,
Unused - Simkin, Lewis, Acheampong, Nwaneri, Dibling,
Not involved - Setford, George

 

Has Ben Nelson been passed fit then? Team training and no updates

Focused on Friday 👊

Our #YoungLions host the Republic of Ireland in the first of two #U21EURO qualifiers this international break. pic.twitter.com/BTmFbwVpG7

— England (@England) November 12, 2025

 

Goalkeeper Elyh Harrison and forward Sam Amo-Ameyaw have been added to Lee Carsley’s U21 #YoungLions squad 🦁

— England (@England) November 13, 2025

Goalkeeper Elyh Harrison and forward Sam Amo-Ameyaw have received their maiden England MU21 call ups.

Harrison, on loan at Shrewsbury Town from Manchester United, and Strasbourg's Amo-Ameyaw have linked up with Lee Carsley's squad at St. George's Park ahead of the 2027 UEFA U21 EURO qualifiers against Republic of Ireland and Slovakia.

The pair, who were originally included in the England MU20 squad, replace Birmingham City's James Beadle and Leicester City's Ben Nelson who have withdrawn through injury.

The Young Lions host the Irish at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Friday (14 November, 7.45pm kick-off) and travel to Prešov to face Slovakia on Tuesday (18 November, 5pm GMT kick-off).


Big matches for Simkin then with no Beadle.

 

Kind of odd Matty Young is completely out the squads despite being fit. He would probably be our best option to play now Beadle is out.

 

Unless they're the no.1 with England's U21s, i'm a fan of letting young keepers stay with their football league clubs and be first choice. It's so hard to secure the role and if you start taking them away, suddenly they have 3 chances to lose their spot in the first half of the season when they're already being judged so harshly.

This is a scenario that has played out before

Young keeper is first choice and has been okay so far but commits error at the weekend
EFL Trophy game and older back up has decent game
Manager decides to play back up in league game because he knows the young keeper will be away the next week and wants continuity
Older back up plays while young loanee is away and does fine
Older back up retains place as loanee is expected to be away again in 3 weeks...

Unlike an outfielder they're entirely reliant on league starts for minutes as the season goes on

 

Sounds also like Tuchel is thinking about promoting Lewis Hall back to the seniors in March so Lewis-Skelly would come in handy in the U21’s.

 

Guessing again