Ray Lewington: 'Gareth Southgate didn't spoil U21s by calling up senior stars'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 12 June 2015

Ray Lewington believes that England Under-21s manager Gareth Southgate was right to leave out a number of senior players from the Euros squad.

England assistant manager Ray Lewington has said that Gareth Southgate has done the right thing by not calling up a hoard of senior players for the Under-21 European Championships in the Czech Republic.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, who received his first senior cap earlier this year, will line up for the Young Lions later this month, but Liverpool star Raheem Sterling was among those not included.

Lewington believes that the England Under-21s have a "reasonable chance" of success in the tournament because Southgate chose to keep the same squad that competed in the qualifying campaign.

Lewington, speaking to Kevin Clarke, winner of the Carlsberg People's Pundit said: "I think from Gareth's point of view, he's had a group of players who have worked really well, played together and got England qualified and I think they've got a reasonable chance.

"I think he didn't want to spoil that atmosphere that they had built up. Yes, he has taken one or two players that have been in the senior squad but I think he's also kept loyal to the players that have actually got them there."

England will begin their campaign with a Group B clash against Portugal next Thursday.