Ruben Loftus-Cheek stars as impressive England Under-21s sweep past Denmark with convincing win

Denmark U21 0 England U21 4: Chelsea's Loftus-Cheek scored twice while Solly March and Cauley Woodrow also got on the scoresheet as the Young Lions won in style

Monday 27 March 2017 21:08 BST
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Loftus-Cheek was the star of the show as Aidy Boothroyd's team beat Denmark
Loftus-Cheek was the star of the show as Aidy Boothroyd's team beat Denmark (Getty)

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Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek struck twice as England Under-21s continued their preparations for the European Championships with a comfortable 4-0 friendly win in Denmark.

Brighton winger Solly March and Burton loanee Cauley Woodrow also got on the scoresheet in Randers as England won for the first time since Aidy Boothroyd was appointed full-time manager.

Loftus-Cheek has made just four starts for Chelsea this season but his double took his tally for the under-21s to to six in his last seven appearances.

England dominated the game from start to finish after Boothroyd made 10 changes to the side beaten in Germany last Friday.

Reading's John Swift had already gone close when Loftus-Cheek fired the visitors into the lead after 10 minutes.

The chance was made by Jacob Murphy, with the Norwich midfielder breaking down the left and pulling back into the box for Loftus-Cheek to take a touch and stroke home coolly.

Chelsea's Loftus-Cheek gave England the lead
Chelsea's Loftus-Cheek gave England the lead (Getty)

England doubled their lead just five minutes later after impressive captain Will Hughes stole possession and the ball was fed wide.

March cut in from the right and struck a curling left-foot shot from the edge of the area which flew in at the far post with aid of a deflection.

England continued to dictate the pace and Woodrow forced Jeppe Hojbjerg to save.

March scored with a wonderful, curling effort
March scored with a wonderful, curling effort (Getty)

Denmark mustered little in response and it was not until just before the interval that goalkeeper Angus Gunn was called into action to keep out a long-range shot from Lasse Vigen Christensen.

Manchester City's Gunn made a better save when he tipped a low shot from Lucas Andersen round the post early in the second half but England soon tightened their grip.

Woodrow was denied from distance on the hour by substitute goalkeeper Andreas Hansen but scored from the resulting corner inside the six-yard box after Kortney Hause won a header.

Woodrow had another effort blocked before Loftus-Cheek claimed his second with a powerful shot through Hansen's grasp after a sharp turn in the area.

Andreas Maxso tested Gunn on a rare Denmark attack but was substituted soon after and showed his frustration by throwing a water bottle.

That preceded Denmark's best spell of the game but the result was never in doubt and the hosts already well beaten. Swift had another late chance for England but shot over.

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