Best possible England Under-21 side. Arsenal stars the future of English international football. Are these youngsters capable of beating the senior side?
There has been a lot of discussion recently over whether a player should drop back down to the Under-21s after making the step up to the senior squad. But what could the current Under-21 side look like if they did?
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There are a number of fantastic young players who currently run out for England, and if they were to drop back down to the Under-21s they could form an absolutely lethal team.
Looking at the current options available for the Under-21 side, they would certainly be capable of giving the senior squad a run for their money.
Here is the best possible starting XI for the Under-21s:
GK) Jack Butland
Although some way behind Joe Hart at the moment, the 21-year-old looks to be an England star in the making. Wasted slightly on the Stoke City bench, once he gets consistent first team football again we should see Butland challenging for Hart’s No.1 spot.
RB) Calum Chambers
Already featuring for the senior side, Chambers has really come into the spotlight since his summer move to Arsenal. With England’s lack of options at right-back at the moment he is likely to continue receiving call ups, although it would appear that Arsene Wenger eventually sees him as centre-back.
CB) Phil Jones
The Manchester United utility man has failed to reach the heights expected of him so far, but he is still young enough to change his fortunes. With a number of young English centre-backs coming through the ranks he will have plenty of competition to keep him on his toes.
CB) John Stones
The Everton youngster is in a similar position to Calum Chambers, deployed largely at right-back despite his future most probably lying at centre-back; a possible pairing of the future.
LB) Luke Shaw
The record teenage signing may not have hit the ground running at United, but he is still an undeniable talent. There is significantly more competition at left-back with the likes of Leighton Baines and Kieran Gibbs, but with age on his side Shaw should eventually make that spot his own.
CM) Jack Wilshere
Arguably wasted in a deep role, Jack Wilshere has often been touted as the future of England. He has been in the squad so long that it’s hard to believe he is still eligible for the Under-21s, a definite mainstay in the team for years to come.
RM) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
It looks to be a breakout season for the Arsenal youngster, and if he can nail down a spot with Arsenal then he should become a permanent fixture in the England squad as well. He has always performed well on the international stage, and was very unlucky to miss the World Cup due to injury.
LM) Raheem Sterling
Surrounded by controversy regarding his recent comments about being too tired to play for England, Sterling is still one of the brightest prospects in England. At just 19-years-old he is already one of the first names on the team sheet when fit.
CAM) Ross Barkley
A lengthy injury has stunted the youngster’s growth somewhat, but Barkley is already an important part of the Everton team, and could soon become the same for England. Arsenal have an abundance of talent in attacking midfield, but Barkley could be the brightest of the lot.
ST) Connor Wickham
The Sunderland striker’s form has been somewhat erratic since his Premier League career got started, occasionally looking like a world beater, but failing to show any real consistency. With his size and strength, he certainly has the potential to lead the line for England some day.
ST) Saido Berahino
Berahino has been in exceptional form recently, with six goals so far this season for West Brom. He also has a fantastic scoring record for the England Under-21s, with an impressive ten goals in 13 games.
Keep reading to see the full potential Under-21 England squad…