Kosovo, who lost 4-0 to Israel in another qualifier on Thursday, are currently fourth in their group with the Azerbaijanis bottom without a point.

In addition to his U21s caps, the 21-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, has also won eight full caps, scoring one international goal.

Midfielder Flynn Downes, 18, could win his fourth England U19s cap when the Young Lions face hosts Bulgaria at the Trace Arena, Stara Zagora this afternoon.

The England youngsters currently top their European Championships mini-group ahead of the Bulgarians on goal difference, both sides having a 100 per cent record from their first two games and having guaranteed their places in the next stage of qualifying in March. The finals are in Finland in July.

England are defending the title they won in Georgia in the summer, a team which featured Blues midfielder Andre Dozzell, who still qualifies for the U19s but is out injured, almost certainly for the whole season.

Set to win his third U19s cap, also in a European Championships qualifying mini-group game, is academy first-year scholar Kian Ronan, who is away with the Gibraltar squad in Greece.

The Gibraltarian youngsters complete their fixtures with a game against Romania this afternoon but stand no chance of progressing to the next stage having been beaten 6-0 by Russia and 5-0 by the hosts in their previous two matches.

The 16-year-old Harlow-based right-back or midfielder, whose mother and grandparents were born in Gibraltar, was in the starting line-up for the opening two matches.

Photos: Claus Birch/Action Images/TWTD