Midfielder Andre Dozzell could win his first England U20s cap this evening when the Young Lions take on Italy in an U20s Elite League game at AFC Fylde’s Mill Farm having replaced team-mate Trevoh Chalobah in the squad. The on-loan Chelsea man has been withdrawn after suffering a minor knock at Swansea on Saturday.
Dozzell and team-mate Flynn Downes, both 19, initially joined up with the squad only to train but the former Copleston High School pupil has been elevated to the main party and may well make his U20s bow against the Azzurri this evening.
The midfielder made his first Town start of the campaign in the 3-2 win at Swansea on Saturday after returning to the senior side as a sub in the 2-0 Middlesbrough defeat earlier in the week having been out since the opening day of last season when he tore a cruciate knee ligament. Dozzell has previously won caps at U16, U17, U18 and U19 levels.
Chalobah, also 19, won his first England U20s cap last month in the 3-1 defeat to Holland in a friendly in Katwijk, while Downes is yet to play at U20 level.
Following today’s game, the England youngsters face the Czech Republic in another Elite League match on Monday in Budejovice.
As revealed earlier in the week, Blues U18s assistant manager Kieron Dyer is part of head coach Paul Simpson’s staff for the current get-together and the next few training camps.
Meanwhile, it's been announced that former Town manager Joe Royle, 69, and his son Darren will join the board of Wigan Athletic following the completion of their takeover by a Hong Kong-based consortium.