Spurs international watch: Big news for young Tottenham pair

On Friday night, England U21s secured a dramatic late win over Ukraine at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, despite being a goal down after 86 minutes. A late brace from James McAtee of Manchester City, including a thumping strike off the underside of the crossbar helped England to an important victory.

This win meant Ukraine could not seal top spot, with their lead cut to two points with one game to go, but results on Saturday have meant that, at worst, England will qualify for next years European Championships in Slovakia as one of the three best runner ups.

The tournament will take place between the 11th and 28th of June 2025, and the draw will take place on the 3rd of December in Bratislava. 15 other teams will join hosts Slovakia.

This gives the young lions a chance to play with freedom and the shackles off, as they host Azerbaijan at Ashton Gate in Bristol on Tuesday night.

This could even mean that, with there not a result to worry about, that Dane Scarlett gets some serious, and much needed, minutes under his belt for that one.

Archie Gray has been a regular in the U21 set up, despite being just 18 and therefore eligible to play for either of the two age groups below the U21s, owing to how rapid his progression has been so far.

We are almost certainly going to see Gray, all being well re injuries and such, at the tournament next summer, unless his development progresses even quicker than it already has and he is in the senior set up.

In truth, less likely for Scarlett, who is still struggling for gametime at Oxford United, and was originally in the U20 squad with Ashley Phillps and Will Lankshear this time round, before being drafted in. Still, let’s wait and see what happens on that front.

A great week for the U21s has the perfect ending.