England Under-21s squad: Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mason Mount in but Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden overlooked

Aidy Boothroyd insisted Foden and Sancho must wait their turn despite impressing recently

Ed Malyon
Friday 31 August 2018 10:07 BST
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Chelsea youngster Mason Mount and Crystal Palace's impressive full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka have been handed their first England Under-21 call ups but there was no place for Phil Foden or Jadon Sancho in the squad.

Midfielder Mount, on loan at Derby, has looked good on loan at Derby County this season after an impressive campaign with Vitesse Arnhem last year. Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, has started three games for Palace this month after beating out Joel Ward for the starting berth at right-back and was recently named the club's player of the month despite a red card against Liverpool.

There was no place for the much-fancied pairing of Foden or Sancho in the senior squad but Aidy Boothroyd also chose to leave out the talented duo, with the former Watford and Northampton Town boss wary of rushing the pair into the squad, especially ahead of those who have performed well for him already.

"There's a clamour for these players and they are exceptional but there are also exceptional players who have got us to the place were are now," Boothroyd told Press Association Sport.

"It's exactly the right thing. Whether they are with us in October or not that's a different matter and there will be a few others like that but overall it's the sensible thing to do. We'll see what happens later on down the line.

"It has to be the right time, the right game and right competition. We won't be reacting on a couple of good games. We're going to do things properly."

Boothroyd explained the omissions of Foden and Sancho
Boothroyd explained the omissions of Foden and Sancho (Getty)

The Young Lions host Holland in Norwich next Thursday and travel to Latvia for a game in Jelgava on September 11.

They are top of Group Four, five points ahead of Holland with four games remaining.

Two wins would book a place at Euro 2019 in Italy and San Marino next year.

England Under-21 squad

Gunn (Southampton), Henderson (Sheffield United, on loan from Manchester United), Woodman (Newcastle), Chilwell (Leicester), Clarke-Salter (Vitesse Arnhem, on loan from Chelsea), Fry (Middlesbrough), Kenny (Everton), Konsa (Brentford), Tomori (Derby , on loan from Chelsea), Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace), Walker-Peters (Tottenham), Cook (Bournemouth), Davies (Everton), Dowell (Everton), Mount (Derby, on loan from Chelsea), Onomah (Tottenham), Sessegnon (Fulham), Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Gray (Leicester), Lookman (Everton), Maddison (Leicester), Solanke (Liverpool).

Additional reporting by agencies

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