Neil Ryan's squad is packed with talent, with plenty who have the potential to become household names in the coming years
There might be no senior tournament for the England men's team this summer, but that doesn't mean it has to be a quiet off-season for Three Lions supporters. In June, Lee Carsley's Under-21s will defend their European Championship crown in Slovakia, while the U19s will kick-off their own Euros at around the same time in Romania.
First up, though, are the U17s, who have travelled to Albania for their own continental competition as they aim to win the Euros for the third time, and first since 2014. Dominic Solanke was the star of the show back then, while the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas and Toni Kroos have been named Player of the Tournament down the years.
It is a competition, then, where stars of the future can catch the eye, and coach Neil Ryan certainly has an extremely talented squad to work with as England prepare for group games against Belgium, defending champions Italy, and the Czech Republic.
But which players have the potential to use this tournament as an initial springboard towards becoming a key member of the senior squad further down the line? GOAL has picked out six players to keep a particular eye on…
Getty Images SportMax Dowman (Arsenal)
The youngest player at the tournament may also be the most talented – and not just in the England squad. Max Dowman doesn't turn 16 until New Year's Eve, but he is already being spoken about as being on of the most exciting youngsters to emerge in the country for a number of years.
Certainly Arsenal fans can't wait to catch a glimpse of Dowman in the first team next season. Premier League rules meant he couldn't be selected by Mikel Arteta this term, but Dowman has warmed-up for his likely ascension to being a regular among the senior squad by scoring 15 goals in as many games while captaining the Gunners' U18s over the course of 2024-25.
An attacking midfielder who can also operate as a box-to-box player, Dowman will likely be the player around whom Ryan builds his England team in Albania. And if he can impress, then the hype around him is only going to intensify.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLandon Emenalo (Chelsea)
If Landon Emenalo's suname sounds familiar, that's because he is the son of former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo, and the 17-year-old is now edging towards making a lasting impression of his own on Stamford Bridge in the not-too-distant future.
England have had to fight hard to lock down Emenalo after he earned three caps for the United States U17s last year, and it remains to be seen which country he eventually chooses as his career develops. For now, he will hope to earn a starting spot in Albania over the coming weeks after taking some big steps in west London over the past season or two.
A defensive midfielder who has also spent time moonlighting at centre-back during his academy career, Emenalo has already made the bench for Chelsea's Conference League team this season, and there are plenty at Stamford Bridge who expect him to earn further first-team chances soon enough.
Getty ImagesFinlay Gorman (Manchester City)
Not until the end of 2023 had a British club paid £1.5 million to sign a 15-year-old footballer, but that's exactly what Manchester City did when they decided to pluck Finlay Gorman out of the Leeds United academy and bring him to the Etihad Campus. The early signs suggest he could be worth every penny, too.
A midfielder who can play in any role asked of him, Gorman, now 16, has enjoyed a productive first full season in City's U18s, for whom he returned 17 goals and assists combined in the league while also playing a key role in their run to the FA Youth Cup final. He also scored some important goals for England during qualification for the Euros, so expect him to be heavily involved in Albania.
Getty ImagesHarry Howell (Brighton)
Brighton's recruitment in recent years has allowed them to establish themselves as a force in the Premier League, but they are also starting to produce players of their own who are capable of becoming household names in their own right. Harry Howell looks to be next off the Seagulls' production line after an excellent season at youth level that has seen him force his way onto the first-team bench towards the end of it.
An attacking midfielder who can also play out wide, Howell racked up four goals and a further four assists in just 17 league matches for Brighton's U21s despite not turning 17 himself until mid-April. He also scored a brace on his England U17s debut back in September, and despite intense competition for places in Ryan's squad, he has the chance to be key part of the starting line-up in Albania.
