3/1 To Win
Derby County striker Luke Plange collected his first cap at England youth international level on Friday evening.
Plange came off the bench for England’s Under-20s as they fell to a 2-0 loss against Poland’s Under-20s in an Elite League fixture at Stadion Miejski in Bialystok.
The 19-year-old was introduced into the action after 74 minutes, replacing Leeds United frontman Sam Greenwood, but by that stage the Three Lions had a mountain to climb.
Two quickfire goals in the early stages of the second half which cost Andy Edwards’ side, with substitute Radoslaw Golebiowski scoring a near-post header to put Poland in front after 55 minutes. The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later when another subsitite, Patryk Szwedzik, fired home.
Plange, who is back on loan with the Rams until the end of the 2021/22 season following a permanent move to Crystal Palace during the January transfer window, earned the call-up for his progress with Derby this term.
Plange has scored three goals for the Rams this term - after initially joining the Under-23s last summer from Arsenal - and netted on his full debut against Blackpool at the start of December. Since then, he has scored further goals against Stoke City and Birmingham City either side of the New Year and made 20 appearances for Wayne Rooney’s side.
England’s Under-20s are back on home soil next week as they take on Germany at Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium on Tuesday 29th March (7:30pm kick-off).
Elsewhere on Friday, Rams defender Lee Buchanan didn’t make the matchday squad for England’s Under-21s for their latest European Under-21 Championship Qualifying fixture against Andorra at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.
Lee Carsley’s side were 4-1 winners on the night and they will now travel to the Elbasan Arena to face Albania on Tuesday 29th March (7:45pm kick-off).
