Rashford and Loftus-Cheek miss out, but Holding and Abraham make England U21 squad

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Marcus Rashford are among the more notable absentees in England’s squad for the European U21 Championship.

Manchester United were reluctant to allow their teenage forward to be involved in the finals this summer, and he is currently with Gareth Southgate’s senior side.

Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, has failed to shake off a back complaint and joins Chelsea team-mate Izzy Brown and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Roberts on the sidelines.

Aidy Boothroyd has, however, been able to select plenty of Premier League experience within his ranks.

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Much sought-after Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is included, along with Arsenal defensive duo Calum Chambers and Rob Holding – with the latter having enjoyed a productive end to the 2016-17 campaign which included a FA Cup triumph.

Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse will captain the side in Poland, while Chelsea trio Lewis Baker, Nathaniel Chalobah and Tammy Abraham will be hoping to see plenty of minutes.

Chalobah is the most experienced member of the squad, with 36 caps to his name, while Pickford, Jack Stephens and Nathan Redmond are set to grace the finals at the age of 23.

England U21 squad in full

Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Manchester City), Jonathan Mitchell (Derby County), Jordan Pickford (Sunderland).

Defenders: Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Kortney Hause (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rob Holding (Arsenal), Mason Holgate (Everton), Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Alfie Mawson (Swansea City), Jack Stephens (Southampton), Matt Targett (Southampton).

Midfielders: Lewis Baker (Chelsea), Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Will Hughes (Derby County), John Swift (Reading), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Demarai Gray (Leicester City), Jacob Murphy (Norwich City), Nathan Redmond (Southampton), Cauley Woodrow (Fulham).

England open their campaign against Sweden on June 16, with further group games against Poland and Slovakia to come after that.