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Jamal Musiala and Lee Buchanan earn first England U21 call-ups for European qualifiers

England U21s at home in final two European qualifiers; they face Andorra on Friday November 13 and Albania on Tuesday November 17; both matches at Molineux; England through to Euro 2021 with two games to spare; Eddie Nketiah became England U21s' record goalscorer against Turkey last month

Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala has earned his first call up to England U21s
Image: Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala has earned his first call up to an England U21 squad

Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala and Derby County defender Lee Buchanan have earned their first England U21 call-ups.

The duo have been included in the squad for the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Albania. England have already qualified for next year's tournament with two games to spare.

"Jamal has been doing really well at Bayern Munich, getting a couple of starts and making a number of cameo appearances and when you're involved in a team of Bayern Munich's quality you have to take notice of that," said head coach Aidy Boothroyd.

England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd
Image: Aidy Boothroyd has the luxury of trying out new players having already qualified for next year's tournament.

"We've been tracking him for quite a while and he has been in the system. I work very closely with not only Les Reed but John McDermott and Lee Carsley, as well as Gareth (Southgate), in terms of when it is right for players to come into the squad.

"The fact that we qualified with two games to go is a real credit to the players and the staff. It means we can give one or two people a rest and we can introduce one or two people who have been doing well, like Jamal.

"If you look at the likes of Jamal and Curtis Jones, then it shows how much talent we have available and the depth of the squad.

Lee Buchanan has also been included in the squad of the first time
Image: Lee Buchanan has also been included in the squad for the first time

"When it comes around to March we'll be in a different place, some players will be in form, others out of form and some players who've found themselves out of the squad, will find themselves in the squad because of their form for their club team."

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Musiala, 17, came through Chelsea's academy before moving to Germany in 2019 and has been previously capped at under-16 and under-17 level.

Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi, Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Sheffield United's Rhian Brewster are all included.

Mason Greenwood in action vs Crystal Palace
Image: Mason Greenwood is not part of Aidy Boothroyd's plans for the next two games

Everton's Ben Godfrey and Tom Davies miss out through injury.

There was no place for Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, eligible for the U21s, after he was also left out of the senior squad for the second consecutive month.

In September he was sent home from Iceland with Phil Foden for breaching coronavirus quarantine guidelines and missed October's meet as a punishment.

England host Andorra on November 13 and Albania on November 17, both at Molineux.

England U21 squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Brandon Austin (Tottenham), Josef Bursik (Stoke City, on loan at Doncaster Rovers), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United)

Defenders: Max Aarons (Norwich City), Lee Buchanan (Derby County), Marc Guehi (Chelsea, on loan at Swansea), James Justin (Leicester City), Lloyd Kelly (AFC Bournemouth), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion), Jonathan Panzo (Dijon), Rhys Williams (Liverpool), Ben Wilmot (Watford)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Dasilva (Brentford), Ebere Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea, loan at West Bromwich Albion), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur, loan at Norwich City)

Forwards: Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Dwight McNeil (Burnley), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur, loan at Hoffenheim)

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