Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis said he did not expect to be called into the England squad for the first time on Thursday. The 22-year-old has been a regular for England at under-21 level but told club media he was "pleasantly surprised" to receive a phone call informing him of his first selection for the senior team.

The 6ft 2in centre-back and captain of England’s U21 side is among the clearest examples of EPPP’s success and the FA’s pathway in practice — and his association with the national team and England interim coach Lee Carsley played an influential part in his selection ahead of more experienced options, like Brighton & Hove Albion’s Lewis Dunk.

Southampton boss Russell Martin is delighted seeing Taylor Harwood-Bellis earn a first call-up with England. Martin says the defender deserves the selection. He said: "Lee (Carsley) knows him very well, he's been his captain (England U21s) for a while so he knows what he can bring.