Wed 06 Feb
Time to read: 2mins
Midfielder makes second half outing for England U21s.
Derby County midfielder Will Hughes claimed his second cap for England’s Under 21s on Tuesday by coming off the bench in their 4-0 win against Sweden.
Hughes was named as a substitute by England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce, and the 17-year-old came on at the break to pick up his latest cap at the highest level of youth football in the English game.
The Rams midfielder replaced Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, wearing the number 15 shirt, and he impressed in the middle of the park early in the half before moving out to the left-hand side of midfield later on.
The Derby Academy graduate displayed a number of neat touches and passes, which will no doubt keep him in consideration for future squads.
The game itself, at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium before a crowd of almost 10,000, was a one-sided affair in England’s favour and a brace from Blackpool winger Thomas Ince, as well as a header from Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey, had the Three Lions 3-0 up at the break.
Sunderland frontman Connor Wickham, also a half-time substitute, made it 4-0 late on with a far post header to wrap up an easy win in what is the final friendly for England’s Under 21s ahead of the European Under 21 Championships in June in Israel.
Hughes returned to Derby on Tuesday evening and will re-join the Rams’ preparations for Saturday’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday today at Moor Farm.
