England boss Gareth Southgate says the trust shown by Frank Lampard and Unai Emery in young players is great news for the national team and namechecked Arsenal’s Joe Willock after his impressive start to the season.
Southgate has named a youthful 25-man England squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo, including Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount. The 20-year-old has been the Blues’ outstanding performer since Lampard took charge, scoring twice in three matches this season, while Southgate says he is keeping tabs on Mount’s team-mate, Tammy Abraham.
Arsenal boss Emery, meanwhile, has put his faith in Reiss Nelson, 19, and Willock, 20, while Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are also staunch advocates of blooding youth.
“At those big clubs, every game is a pressure situation,” Southgate said. “Those clubs have good players coming through their academies and circumstances have allowed for opportunities. It’s another example of when those guys go in — as [Liverpool’s] Trent [Alexander-Arnold] has done, as Mason has done, as Willock has done — they can more than survive.
“It’s great that they get first-team football because, if we’re going to be able to involve them with us, they need to play more and learn the game and to experience performing under pressure.”
Southgate handed maiden call-ups to United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings, the former at the expense of Kyle Walker.
