Town duo Andre Dozzell and Ben Morris will be hoping to add to their caps when the England U17s get their European Championships campaign under way against Sweden in Baku, Azerbaijan this afternoon (KO 4pm).

Midfielder Dozzell, who turned 17 on Monday and signed a two-year professional contract, has previously won 12 U17s caps, scoring three goals, while striker Morris, 16, has played six games for the U17s but so far without finding the net.

Manager McCarthy had no thoughts of keeping Dozzell behind for the Blues’ final two domestic games with the England squad having assembled last Wednesday before flying to Azerbaijan at the end of last week.

“He’s a young kid who is doing great and I’m delighted that he got in the England U17s and he’s gone away because he’d had his little taste,” he said.

“It wasn’t easy, and as I said before, if he hadn’t have scored his goal at Sheffield Wednesday the rest of the performance wouldn’t have been as memorable.

“It’s been a wonderful story and he can go away, he signed his contract and he can enjoy his football with the U17s and he’ll come back and he’ll start with the first team then. That’ll be interesting.”

McCarthy says the Blues also have high hopes for Morris, although he is further down the pecking order than Dozzell at the present time.

“Ben Morris trains with us on the odd occasion and does really well,” the Town boss added.

“But he’s not Murph, he’s not Freddie, he’s not Didz, he’s not Pits, he’s not at that level, but we do think he’ll get there. He’s a good player. Whenever he trains with us, he trains well.”

Following today’s match, the U17s face France on Monday, before they complete their group fixtures with a match against Denmark on Thursday.

In addition to Dozzell having been named in the initial squad and Morris being called up at the weekend, another first-year scholar, keeper Nick Hayes, and schoolboy midfielder Tristan Nydam were on standby ahead of the tournament.

Back in 2010, then-Blues striker Connor Wickham scored the goal which won the England U17s the European Championships for the first time in Liechtenstein.

Meanwhile, Town are among 44 clubs to receive the Football League Family Excellence Award for the 2015/16 season.

Created in 2007, the award “recognises the outstanding experience provided by clubs for young fans and families”. The Blues are one of six clubs have received the award in every season in which they have been eligible.

Photo: Action Images

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