Eddie Nketiah scored his 18th goal in 19 games for England’s youth teams on Monday, with Tyreece John-Jules also getting on the scoresheet in the other match.
Both the England u20s and u18s were facing up against the Czech Republic on Monday, with a number of Arsenal players involved.
For the u18s, Bukayo Saka, Vontae Daley-Campbell and Folarin Balogun started the match. However, it was Tyreece John-Jules who made the biggest impact, coming off the bench with the team 2-1 down.
The young striker took just eight minutes to find an equaliser and send it to penalties. He then stepped up again in the shoot-out and found the net, as England won 5-4.
Meanwhile, only Eddie Nketiah featured from Arsenal in the u20 match, with Joe Willock rested. Nketiah scored England’s only goal in a 1-1 draw, as well as seeing another effort disallowed.
Time for Nketiah to get senior chances?
For Nketiah, that’s now 18 goals in 19 England youth games, as well as three assists. Twitter user @DF_Arsenal did a good job of rounding up the striker’s goal and assist stats for club and country:
https://twitter.com/DF_Arsenal/status/1052084439256391681
They really make you wonder why the youngster doesn’t get more chances to play first-team football. Reiss Nelson got a great loan move, Emile Smith Rowe and Matteo Guendouzi have been given plenty of first-team chances already, but Nketiah hasn’t played a single minute of senior football this season.
Games against Brentford, Vorskla and Qarabag were perfect opportunities for at least a substitute appearance, but no such luck.
International Youth Round-Up
- Reiss Nelson (England u21s) – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Daniel Ballard (Northern Ireland u21s) – 1 goal
- Joe Willock (England u20s) – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Eddie Nketiah (England u20s) – 2 goals
- Emile Smith Rowe (England u19s) – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Tyreece John-Jules (England u18s) – 2 goals
- Sam Greenwood (England u17s) – 1 goal
Matches still to play at the time of writing:
- 16th October, 17:30 – England u21s vs Scotland
- 16th October, 19:00 – England u17s vs Brazil
- 16th October, 19:45 – Northern Ireland u21s vs Slovakia
- 16th October – England u19s vs Macedonia (No further details on timing, invitation-only fixture)