JAMES McATEE paid tribute to George Baldock after firing a late double to seal an epic comeback over Ukraine.
McAtee lifted his shirt up twice to reveal the name of his old Sheffield United team-mate, who was found dead in a swimming pool in Greece on Wednesday.
The Manchester City starlet played alongside the former Greek defender in loan spells at Bramall Lane over the past two seasons.
And after both his fine finishes for the Young Lions, McAtee peeled his shirt up to show a white top with the words “GB 2 REST EASY BROTHER X”.
Ahead of kick-off, the 21-year-old had posted: “I love you to bits brother, thank you for looking after me and also thank you for the memories that we shared together.
“Thoughts go out to your amazing family. Special player, special teammate, special person.”
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On the pitch it looked like the Young Lions would endure the same fate as the senior side the previous night as Dynamo Kyiv defender Taras Mykhavko put Ukraine ahead on 70 minutes at a sold-out Vitality Stadium.
But McAtee, who has made just one Premier League appearance for City this season, saved the day with a ferocious strike into the top corner on 88 minutes.
He then wrapped things up by firing in a fierce, low drive for the winner two minutes later to give Pep Guardiola some food for thought following his first-ever City goal against Slovan Bratislava a week ago.
The defending champions are now two points behind Group F leaders Ukraine with one match to play against Azerbaijan next Tuesday, while the table-toppers will take on Serbia.
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England were in the driving seat for most of the game with Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson being teed up by Aston Villa’s Jaden Philogene, but blazing over the bar.
The best chance of the first-half came 23 minutes in when McAtee stung the hands of an onrushing Ruslan Neshcheret with a rasping, close-range shot.
After the break, the Young Lions had a fire lit in their bellies with Neshcheret tipping a rocket strike from Liam Delap over the bar before McAtee fired one agonisingly wide moments later.
England were wasteful in front of goal though and scuppered another peach of a chance as Philogene broke free in front of goal but fired straight at Neshcheret.
The hosts shirked their defensive duties and Kostiantyn Vivcharenko nearly poked one home before Jack Hinshelwood cleared the danger.
England should have seen the warning signs as Mykhavko headed home after an inch-perfect corner from Oleh Ocheretko with half-an-hour to go.
The hosts were handed a golden chance to get back in it when Maksym clattered into McAtee on the edge of the box before the winger equalised and hit the winner.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
