Malik Olayiwola and Rueben Gokah have been called up to England u17’s triple header in Scotland as they seek Euros qualification.
The Everton youngsters will join the squad for qualifiers against Scotland, Lithuania and Sweden across the next week. However, it does mean the two important members of Everton u18s will miss a clash with Liverpool’s u18s on Wednesday.
Central midfielder Olayiwola has made huge progress in the Everton academy, starring for the u18s and during the recent Bermuda Cup and Geneva Cup wins over the summer. Capable of playing across the midfield positions, he has appeared in two of England’s three qualifying games so far, starting in the 2-1 win over Venezuela and the remarkable 7-5 defeat of Germany,
Olayiwola has one goal and one assist in four games for Everton u18s this year.
Rueben Gokah is a summer signing from Charlton and the 16-year-old centre half has started five games at the heart of defence for Everton u18s. He started all three of England’s previous qualifying games as one of the more established members of Liam Bramley’s squad.
England play Scotland on Tuesday 28 October (3.30pm GMT kick-off) at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.
The Young Lions then come up against Lithuania on Friday 31 October (11am GMT kick-off) at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld.
And Bramley’s team round off their trip to Scotland with a game against Sweden on Monday 3 November (3pm GMT kick-off) at the same venue.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Tommy Betts (Sheffield United), Isaac Collinson (Chelsea), George Mair (Newcastle United)
Defenders: Marlow Barrett (Manchester City), Calvin Diakite (Chelsea), Reuben Gokah (Everton), Josiah King (Arsenal), Marli Salmon (Arsenal), Oscar Sandiford (Tottenham Hotspur), Archie Thornton (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Sam Alabi (Newcastle United), Hugo De Lisle (Leicester City), Charlie Holland (Chelsea), Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli (Chelsea), Malik Olayiwola (Everton)
Forwards: Oliver Boast (Tottenham Hotspur), Joél Drakes-Thomas (Crystal Palace), Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Chelsea), Brian Madjo (FC Metz), Ajay Tavares (Norwich City), Kyran Thompson (Arsenal)
The two u18 stars are not the only members of Everton’s academy to receive an England call up this week. Jon Nsangou, the 15-year-old attacker who has already appeared for Everton u21s, has been called up to the England u16s squad.
He will join the squad in Turkey for games against Wales, Turkey and Portugal starting with Wales on Thursday.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Lucca Benetton (Crystal Palace), Mikel Jack (Tottenham Hotspur), Alfie Smith (Birmingham City)
Defenders: Jacob Dean-Ford (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Emmanuel Fejokwu (West Ham United), Josh Henry (Chelsea), George Jobling (Chelsea), Chase Kapotwe (Fulham), Heaven Kilwa (Aston Villa), Bobby Martin (Southampton), Les Yeutembip (Newcastle United)
Midfielders: David Eze (Manchester City), Hezekiah Grimwade (Chelsea), Darren Motsi (Leicester City), Xavier Parker (Manchester City), Kwasi Senyah (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Reggie Watson (Chelsea)
Forwards: Joshua Abe (Liverpool), Joshua Blake (Aston Villa), Joseph Gabriel (Manchester United), Oscar Johnson (Aston Villa), Vincent Joseph (Liverpool), Jonathan Nsangou (Everton)