Two More England younger has been promoted to first team in shock decision from Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate has promoted two U21 players to England’s senior team ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Belgium.

Southgate has called up 19-year-old full-back Rico Lewis and 21-year-old custodian James Trafford for the encounter at Wembley.

Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, and Sam Johnstone were all injured and had to withdraw from the squad.

Trafford, a Burnley custodian who previously represented England at the under-17 and under-21 levels, is making his senior debut.

A Manchester United fan chants for Rasmus Hojlund (source: Instagram/PrinceRyank28).
The custodian was a key member of England’s winning U21 European Championship team last summer.

Lewis, a Manchester City prospect, has one senior cap, having made his debut against North Macedonia in November.

Maguire, Walker, and Johnstone have all returned to their clubs for evaluations.

The two acquisitions follow Southgate’s trend of giving young players opportunity and debuting previously uncapped players.

Ezri Konsa, Anthony Gordon, and 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo all made their senior debuts in England’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday, and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite will look to do the same against Belgium on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game is the last chance for England’s players to persuade Southgate that they deserve to be selected in his squad for Euro 2024 this summer.

England will play friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in June before beginning their Euros campaign against Serbia on June 16, although by then, Southgate will have chosen his tournament squad.

England were defensively weak against Brazil, with Maguire in particular failing to maintain his composure.

Branthwaite’s confident performance against Belgium should help him clinch a starting spot in Germany this summer.

While Lewis faces a tough battle to be selected over England’s plethora of full-back options, Trafford has a good chance of becoming the third-choice custodian ahead of Crystal Palace’s Johnstone.