Sunderland pair Duncan Watmore and Jordan Pickford have both received their maiden call-ups to the England Under-21 squad. The duo impressed for the national team’s U20s in the summer’s Toulon tournament, and now they have been included in Gareth Southgate’s plans for the games against the USA and Norway next month. Winger Watmore scored on his Premier League debut for Sunderland last month in the 3-1 defeat against Norwich. Keeper Pickford, meanwhile, began his season-long loan at Championship Preston with three clean sheets. If selected, the pair are likely to come up against Sunderland team-mate Lynden Gooch in the USA game after the forward has been a regular in his country’s U23 squad.
That's good recognition for them after good starts to the season. Pickford didn't concede a goal for about 300 minutes this season. Would love to see Beadling getting more involved and a call up. The future starts to look rosy if we can start having a handful of players at that level.
Welcome back fella. This is good news indeed. What we need is to see Exeter off in the first half so Beadling and Watmore both get a good half hour each tonight.
Watmore changed the game tonight. First time I've seen him in the flesh. The older lads, particularly Larsson and Defoe looked like they really enjoyed having him on the pitch. Very pacey and direct. A raw diamond but he could be a real handful once polished. Great to see Gooch come on as well - didn't seem phased at all and showed some nice touches and runs.
