Carsley names first England U21 squad since return

Lee Carsley had six games in charge of England's senior team, with Ben Futcher taking interim control of the U21s

Lee Carsley has named his first England Under-21 squad since returning to the role.

Carsley was in charge of the England senior team for last year's Nations League games before Thomas Tuchel got the permanent job.

The Young Lions play France away on Friday, 21 March and host Portugal at The Hawthorns three days later - both in friendlies.

Many of the team were considered candidates to be named in Tuchel's first England squad, but are in the U21s instead.

They include Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri and Ipswich striker Liam Delap.

There are first U21 call-ups for goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe, defenders CJ Egan-Riley and Dennis Cirkin and Nwaneri.

Goalkeepers: James Beadle (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Doncaster Rovers, on loan from Chelsea), Tommy Simkin (Walsall, on loan from Stoke City)

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland), Charlie Cresswell (FC Toulouse), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton), Rico Lewis (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund), Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Liam Delap (Ipswich Town), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town), Sam Iling-Junior (Middlesbrough, on loan from Aston Villa), James McAtee (Manchester City), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jaden Philogene (Ipswich Town), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City)