Post by Taxigirl on Feb 17, 2004 10:21:31 GMT
England U21 v Holland U21
Kick-off 2000 GMT
KC Stadium, Hull
Glen Johnson has been handed the captaincy of England Under-21s for Tuesday night's match against Holland.
Coach David Platt said the Chelsea defender's maturity made him a natural choice to skipper the team at Hull.
"When I told him he looked me in the eye as if he expected it. But that's the way he is. It's confidence, not arrogance," said Platt.
Blackburn striker Jon Stead and Bolton defender Nicky Hunt are both in an inexperienced England squad.
Johnson, with six caps, is the most experienced member of the squad which includes 15 players yet to win a cap at Under-21 level.
But Platt said he felt the 19-year-old still had a good chance of making the senior squad for this summer's European Championship in Portugal.
"On this occasion Sven has decided it is better for him to play in this game rather than go and sit on a bench in Portugal," said Platt.
"At the moment, in terms of international football, Glen is at a level above the Under-21s, but slightly below the seniors and so has a fighting chance of being at Euro 2004 and I've spoken to him about it."
Platt is encouraged by his new crop of youngsters which also includes Leeds and Newcastle defenders Matthew Kilgallon and Steven Taylor as well as Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing.
Tuesday's match against the Netherlands is the first of three friendlies ahead of the qualifying campaign for the next Under-21 European Championship which begins in September.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England Under-21 squad
Ambrose (Newcastle), Ashton (Crewe), Bent (Ipswich), Bentley (Arsenal), Carson (Leeds), Chaplow (Burnley), Chopra (Newcastle/Nottm Forest), Cole (Chelsea/Charlton), Davies (Middlesbrough), Downing (Middlesbrough), Grant (Derby), Johnson (Chelsea), Hoyte (Arsenal), Hunt (Bolton), Kilgallon (Leeds), Lonergan (Preston), Reo-Coker (West Ham), Ridgewell (Aston Villa), Stead (Blackburn), Taylor (Newcastle), Welsh (Liverpool), Whittingham (Aston Villa).