SCOUTS and analysts are scouring the world to secure top talent for England’s youth teams.
And two players who both live in the United States could be in action for the Three Lions’ Under-19s and Under-17s tonight.
It would have been unthinkable a few years ago for the States to have produced top talent which would have interested the Football Association.
Yet their recruitment and retention department have been hard at work.
And hoping for his international debut for England’s U19s against Germany in Spain this evening is midfielder Noel Buck.
Born and bred in Arlington, Massachusetts, Buck plays for home MLS club New England Revolution and has made 24 first-team appearances.
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His dad Steven holds both American and British passports and last year Buck was called up by the US men’s national team to attend a development camp.
But he has accepted the FA call-up and could also feature for England against Switzerland on Saturday, alongside Jude Bellingham’s younger brother Jobe.
Similarly, defender Christian McFarlane of New York City could play for England’s U17s tonight against Portugal in Spain.
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McFarlane, 16, was born in Essex but moved to the USA, aged three.
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At just 14 years and seven months, McFarlane signed his first pro contract with New York City and in doing so, became the third youngest player in MLS history to sign a deal.
He has already played for the United States U16s but has accepted England’s invitation and could play against Morocco on Saturday and hosts Spain next Tuesday.
Of course, both players could still end up with the United States.
That is shown by the fact Norwich keeper Angus Gunn could pick up another senior cap for Scotland next Tuesday despite his 12 appearances for England’s U21s.
Gunn, whose dad Bryan played six times for Scotland, swapped countries after believing his chances with England were limited and has already made four senior appearances.
FANS IN POLE POSITION
ENGLAND will take almost 3,500 fans to Wroclaw for their Euro qualifier against Ukraine on Saturday.
The 45,000-seat stadium was a venue for Euro 2012.
The city considers itself as the ‘Venice of Poland’ owing to its canals and fans may want to know Wroclaw is pronounced ‘vrot-swaaf’.
JURGEN GETS IT HWANG
SOUTH KOREA boss Jurgen Klinsmann was at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the hope of watching Nottingham Forest’s Hwang Ui-jo.
The striker had been an unused sub in Forest’s last three games and the former Spurs frontman was hoping to see him play.
Sadly for him, Hwang was in Norwich having signed just seconds before the transfer window shut the night before.
DRAW’S NOT MUCH KOP
THE biggest clubs in Europe were all in Monaco last week.
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Teams sent chief execs, sporting directors, ambassadors or just their club secretaries for the Champions League, Europa League and Europa League Conference draws.
Maybe it was because they are only in the Europa League but Liverpool did not send anyone.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
