Leeds United: England call-ups were commendablesays Eddie Gray

Twenty-year-old midfielder Alex Mowatt was an unused substitute for England Under-20s against Mexico yesterday evening while 18-year-old midfielder Lewis Cook is on duty with England Under-19s against Denmark on Thursday evening.

Many were surprised that 21-year-old wide duo Sam Byram and Charlie Taylor did not also earn England youth team call-ups but Gray is keen to stress the difficulties in United’s players competing for places alongside players from the Premier League.

Gray said: “You’ve got to remember we are playing at Championship level when you think about Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt.

“And so I wasn’t really surprised that Sam Byram and Charlie Taylor never got a call.

“I think Sam has played well but whether Sam is a natural right winger I don’t know.

“I think he has done really well for us but there’s probably boys that are playing in the international team that are natural wide players and who are playing at a higher level.

“I think Charlie Taylor is doing well down the left side and I think Sam and Charlie are doing very, very well but I’m not surprised they haven’t got a call up.

“They are doing very well for us and next season the young boys are going to be stronger.

“They are going to know what the Championship is all about.”