Hutchinson and Philogene Net For England U21s Monday, 24th Mar 2025 21:47 Omari Hutchinson and Jaden Philogene were both on target and Liam Delap also added to his caps as England’s U21s beat Portugal 4-2 in a friendly at the Hawthorns.
Hutchinson, winning his fourth U21s cap, started for Lee Carsley’s side despite his red card in Friday’s friendly in France, while Philogene and Delap were on the bench.
The 21-year-old began the game as the central striker with Carsley’s options for that role limited and Delap having begun the French friendly, which ended 5-3 to the home side.
On 17, with England already in a 2-0 lead, Hutchinson looped the ball over the advanced Portuguese keeper from the edge of the area but a defender was able to clear off the line. Two minutes later, he forced a save, albeit not too taxing a stop.
Delap and Philogene, playing their 12th and ninth games at this level respectively, were introduced on 70 and both had an immediate impact, the former Villa man teeing-up Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton for a shot from the edge of the box, then winning a free-kick not far outside the area.
On 74, a towering Delap from a deep corner from the left was batted away by the visitors’ keeper, then a Philogene shot was deflected wide.
From the resultant corner, Hutchinson scored. The ball was sent in deep from the right and was headed back to the edge of the six-yard box from where the former Chelsea youngster nodded his second U21s goal to make the scoreline 3-1.
In the 79th minute, Hutchinson, more effective having moved from the unfamiliar central striker’s role, and Philogene combined on the right of the area to create what would have been a tap-in for Manchester City’s James McAtee had a Portuguese foot not intervenes.
A minute later, a Philogene shot was blocked, then Delap’s rebound flew miles wide, before Hutchinson carved out a chance for the Town striker with a tricky run on the right of the box but the ball was taken away from the Blues’ top scorer as he was about to add the final touch.
After Delap was booked for a foul, Philogene completed the evening’s scoring as the game moved into injury time, cutting in from the left and curling a low shot inside the far post, the 22-year-old’s fourth goal for the England U21s.
Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
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Mark added 22:10 - Mar 24
Well done to Hutchinson and Philogene. They should be some force in the Championship next season if they stay with us! How odd that the U21 match was on at the same time as the senior England match. Surely they could play a different evening so fans could watch both matches if they wanted to. |  | |
Bert added 22:33 - Mar 24
Hutchinson motm for me. Played up front and was involved in so many moves. Philogene made an instant impact and delivered some sharp passes and Delap was a nuisance. Great to see three of our players in an England U21 shirt. |  | |
Leejames99 added 23:08 - Mar 24
Great game, and that's what are forward players do when played in their actual positions, and they will be at Town next year, only some of the old guard will go and maybe Delap on loan to a Prem club but I think he stays too, don't need to sell them next season, they were bought for the future to establish Town as a Prem team, we won't be a selling club yet of assets we only bought in Jan and Summer, there will definately be no relegation clauses as we were favourites for relegation, we only need to sign a few, one in midfield, if we sign Cajuste. I hope they give Burgess and Tunazabe new deals. I still think until after the Wolves game we shouldn't be talking relegation yet, Wolves will lose games but we need to beat them for the points and momentum, I think we just might see Muric back in soon he concedes far less than Walton and Palmer and some 0-0 or 1-1 scores might be handy. I genuinely think if Mckenna gets selection right we have the players to go on a run but they have to play in their positions and that means dropping Davis for Townsend, if that doesnt happen we will just continue getting trounced, it's a shame for Davis but he just doesnt have the pace to do what he did in Championship and nor do we need him on left wing we need a left back to stay back! |  | |
ITFC_1994 added 01:49 - Mar 25
Love this! The best england u21 team on paper for a long time and the front 3 all play for town- who'd have thought that would be the case 3 years ago! Pleased for Philogene as some of the abuse he's been getting from so called fans has been a disgrace! Although it's mainly from the usual clowns on here, Facebook and X.... if Delap and Omari are still here next season I'd be surprised but if by some miracle they are, then wow! We will rip up the championship!! COYB |  | |
Carberry added 08:22 - Mar 25
Because we were favourites to go down there won't be any relegation clauses in new players contracts - where do you get this stuff from Leejames99? The club will have put relegation clauses to reduce wages if relegated to the Championship, it's common practise. The players' agents will have done the same to get their man out of the club and back to the Prem with release clause figures. You seem to overlook that the clubs don't have all the cards any more, if a player wants away, they will go. There's not much career progression playing another season or more in the Championship - and please don't say we will be guaranteed to come straight back up. Muric back? No chance, unless Palmer and Walton are injured. |  | |
backwaywhen added 09:11 - Mar 25
Philogene definitely more comfortable against players of his own stature, looks incredibly lightweight against more physical prem players , wether he will toughen up enough remains to be seen …..for me that’s a big minus in the top division. |  | |
Spamfortea added 09:36 - Mar 25
I am pleased for Philogene. Some idiots berrated him against Forrest. He's a young player with a lot to learn who has already scored goals for us and only been at the club two months with a handful of games. Strange how he is good enough for an England shirt but for some not good enough for an Ipswich one. |  | |
Leejames99 added 10:06 - Mar 25
@carberry Where do you get your info from? Putting relegation clauses in for new signings would be the daftest business move ever and be the downfall of every club if that were case. What your saying is a club goes up buys and signs players with good stock and sell on and then if they do well a top half team just swoops in and buys them, utter nonsense. Players do not hold the cards the club do, case in point he signed contract at Spurs, Man City put in 100 mill bid, Kane puts in transfer request Levy says no your staying here because his goals were worth more than fee in league position. Players can't sign for 1 club and jump ship if the going gets tough. Our signings were made with the future in mind, we wouldnt of paid 20 mill for Phillogene in Jan if that were case. The only clause Players like Delap might have is a release fee which for Delap Is believed to be 40 mill which City have the right to match, if they don't get punished they won't want him at a top 6 club they made that mistake with Palmer, the player won't want to go sit on bench and won't want to join a relegation battle. He will stay, or be loaned while his stock grows or if a ridiculous bid comes in Town might consider it. Delap has only scored 10 that's not world class Champions League level. The last thing Ipswich will want to be is a feeder club, I can name loads Players who have wanted a move but have to stay, they get in a mood then crack on with season. It's getting so boring some fans assuming we are relegated when we aren't as yet, and can still catch Wolves or stay up if City go down. I get down marked for saying Muric back in goal Davis dropped which is fine, but we ship goals like water, don't score and are getting rolled over. We gained the most points with Muric in goal, have not won a game since Xmas and Davis is out of position constant, we may have England u21 front 3 but we don't play them in their natural positions. Ipswich Town hold the cards with new signings and they were bought for a reason, all signed long contracts and up or down the club decides who stays or goes and for Delap Ipswich first have to accept and bid and then Man City can match it so the ball is not in his court by any stretch. If Town do get a huge bid they might want to sell Delap because 40 mill will get us another good striker and the money for Cajuste. The only players leaving will be the Burns and Waltons etc Let's try and get behind the team while there is still a small chance before relegation. If people think we spent over 100 million on a gamble that's craziness, we were favourites to go down and still are, Ashton and Mckenna bought players to build a team that can grow, do you think @carberry they all go and we back to league 1 lads like Prem never happened? We want to be a Burnley not a Luton! |  | |
Carberry added 11:34 - Mar 25
I'm sorry Leejames99, I like your enthusiasm but don't agree with anything you say. Let's see what happens shall we. And we have all got your message about Davis and Muric.....many times over. |  | |
Leejames99 added 15:02 - Mar 25
@carberry I didn't realise you represent everyone, apologies. It's not enthusiasm, I don't think Mckenna will drop Davis and will probaly do some more tinkering and we will be relegated, I think if they weren't planning relegation from start of season with a smidgen of hope of 17th then Mckenna would of been sacked by now, he got a free hit for his success and they are sticking to their process and plan by the looks of it, I've no doubt he will bring Chaplin straight in if fit at the expense of a new signing. I'm just optimistic that you would think while we can still catch Wolves and have to at least come third bottom in case City drop down then they should just go for it, take a lead and then shut shop, time will tell. It is such a shame some fans think we are already down, all our signings of any quality will be sold and we be back with same league 1 lads and a couple of loans and Prem was all a dream. The owners and chairman have a plan to be an established team so they aren't going to just give up after one season in Prem where we shouldn't of even got promoted on paper. We will keep our signings and sell the players who were signed in league 1 to continue their careers at their level, no point keeping players we know can't cut in Prem and ate too old to get better. The aim if relegated will be to go straight back up but even stronger and with the players we signed that should be fairly achievable. Up or down we are still in a much better place than w seasons ago. I think be good for fans to see us winning with these new players at Portman Road, not much to fear in Championship. |  | |
Linkboy13 added 18:14 - Mar 26
Playing in the Premier league against players that are about two stone heavier and much quicker is far different to playing against u21s who are reluctant to get to involved in case of getting injured. |  | |
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