The English Football Association has announced a 23-man roster for the upcoming 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship group stages, with two players on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation cutting.
PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke is among three new faces in the Young Lions squad, while Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze is set to feature in his first major tournament for his country of birth.
Chukwunonso “Noni” Tristan Madueke (born 10 March 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays for Eredivisie club PSV, as an attacking midfielder. Madueke is of Nigerian descent.
Madueke began his career playing for Tottenham Hotspur; he captained their under-16 side and made his under-18 debut at the age of 15. He moved to Dutch club PSV in June 2018, signing a three-year contract, and rejecting an offer from Manchester United in the process.
On 26 August 2019, Madueke made his senior debut in the Eerste Divisie for Jong PSV, coming on as a 64th-minute substitute in a 1–0 loss to MVV Maastricht.
London-born Madueke has openly flirted with the Dutch national team in recent weeks, saying he was open to represent the Netherlands in the next two and a half years.
The Tottenham Hotspur academy product previously represented England at U16, U17 and U18 levels.
Madueke is having a banner season at PSV, with a goal involvement of 17 (9 goals, 8 assists) in 26 appearances across all competitions.
Eze, who trained with Nigeria’s national team in March 2017 before a cancelled friendly against Burkina Faso, has retained his place on the roster following his fine performances for Crystal Palace. The former Arsenal schoolboy appeared in four matches during the U21 EURO qualifiers.
England will face Croatia, Portugal and Switzerland in Group D, with only two of the four countries progressing to this summer’s knockout stage.