Sheffield United keeper and Doncaster Rovers loanee in England U21 squad

SHEFFIELD UNITED goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Doncaster Rovers loanee Josef Bursik have been named in England under-21s squad for the forthcoming matches in Kosovo and Austria.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale signs for Sheffield United and is welcomed by manager Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane. Picture: Simon Bellis/SportimageGoalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale signs for Sheffield United and is welcomed by manager Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale signs for Sheffield United and is welcomed by manager Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Ramsdale, who recently completed his big-money return to the Blades from Bournemouth, has been capped seven times at under-21 level following his initial call-up in May 2018.

London-born Bursik - who recently joined Rovers on a season-long loan from Championship outfit Stoke City - has been capped by the Three Lions at Under-17, U18, U19 and U20 level.

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Arsenal's former Leeds United loanee Eddie Nketiah is back in the squad after missing the last qualifier in Albania through injury last November, with Gunners team-mates Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson also in the party.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham is also named in the squad for the first time, with Callum Hudson-Odoi also included along with Tottenham Hotspur’s Ryan Sessegnon and Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster.

The Young Lions, managed by Yorkshire-born head coach Aidy Boothroyd, resume their U21 European qualifying campaign behind closed doors on Friday September 4 when they travel to take on Kosovo in Pristina (6pm).

Four nights later on Tuesday, September 8, Boothroyd's side heading to Ried im Innkreis for the meeting with Austria (7.30pm).

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The Austrians are level on 12 points with unbeaten England at the top of Group Three, although have played a game more.

Boothroyd said: "We’re all really looking forward to meeting up for the first time since November.

"We have two testing away matches against our closest rivals in the group and it’ll be a good opportunity for the players to come together again, even if it will be an unusual experience with no crowds at either of the fixtures.

"We had a 2-0 home victory against Kosovo in Hull a year ago and I remember they made things difficult for us with a disciplined defensive performance.

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"After that, we played really well in a 5-1 win against Austria in Milton Keynes, which I’m sure our hosts will want to make amends for when we make the return trip.

"We know we are in good shape for the qualification and this is a hungry squad that have a great opportunity in front of them with next summer’s finals not too far away."

The group will meet up at St. George’s Park on Monday, with the camp being operated under strict COVID-19 protocols, before heading to Kosovo for the first game later in the week.

Full squad: Max Aarons (Norwich City); Brandon Austin (Tottenham Hotspur); Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund); Rhian Brewster (Liverpool); Josef Bursik (Doncaster Rovers - loan from Stoke City); Todd Cantwell (Norwich City); Josh Dasilva (Brentford); Tom Davies (Everton); Ebere Eze (Queens Park Rangers); Conor Gallagher (Chelsea); Ben Godfrey (Norwich City); Marc Guehi (Chelsea) Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea); Reece James (Chelsea); James Justin -(Leicester City); Lloyd Kelly (AFC Bournemouth); Reiss Nelson (Arsenal); Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal); Jonathan Panzo (AS Monaco); Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United); Bukayo Saka (Arsenal); Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur); Oliver Skipp (Norwich City - loan from Tottenham Hotspur).