Loanee winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles says he hasn’t stopped smiling since scoring a brilliant 25-yard strike on his England U19s debut as they defeated Germany 3-2 in a friendly in Bergisch Gladbach on Friday. The 18-year-old and his team-mates are in action in Croatia in another friendly on Monday evening, while Blues midfielder Adam McDonnell is set to win a cap with the Republic of Ireland U19s.
"I haven’t stopped smiling yet," Maitland-Niles told TheFA.com. "It was a good finish. My focus was on winning the game and helping the team and I’d like to think I did that.
"When you get the ball and think you can hit it, the picture appears in front of you. I adapted my body and made the split-second decision to have a go and luckily it flew into the top corner. It could have gone over the bar but it didn’t and I’m really happy with that."
The on-loan Arsenal youngster’s goal made the scoreline 3-1 in the 64th minute, England having been reduced to 10 men just after the break when Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny was dismissed.
"The lads did fantastic,” Maitland-Niles continued. "It’s unfortunate that Jonjoe got the red card but we battled it out and we came out victorious.
"I think that says everything and what sort of team we are — we have some great characters and we showed that to win with 10 men."
He says friendlies such as Friday’s and Monday’s against Croatia in Zabreb are very useful exercises: "These are definitely the tests we need. The team is gelling together well.
"Even in training the tempo is crazy and hopefully it’s only upwards for us from here. We just can’t wait for Monday now."
McDonnell, 18, who made his Town debut in the Capital One Cup tie at Doncaster, is set to win his third Republic of Ireland U19 cap when they take on Italy in a friendly in Cava de’ Tirreni, also on Monday.