Photo courtesy of Pinnacle/The FA
PAUL FAIRCLOUGH has handed three players their England C debuts for this evening’s game with Jordan-Under-23s.
Wrexham keeper Andy Coughlin has got the nod in goal with Bromley defender Jack Holland, the only player from outside of the Skrill Premier, winning his first cap in the heart of the defence alongside Fraser Franks.
Cambridge United midfielder Luke Berry makes his long awaited debut in midfield after missing out on previous trips through injury. The other eight starters all have caps to their name.
James Norwood, who has scored four goals in his three England C appearances, starts up front alongside Luton hot-shot Andre Gray.
Salisbury defender Angus MacDonald will make his second appearance for Non-League‘s Three Lions after being called up from standby to replace Alfreton’s Bradley Wood. Woking‘s Josh Payne, who replaced Nuneaton midfielder James Armson, will play in midfield alongside Berry.
Mickey Demetriou returns for his third cap at left-back while there will be plenty of pace on both flanks through Keanu Marsh-Brown and Elliott Frear.
Fairclough will give all five players on the bench game time too – and has reassured club managers back home that
he will be sensitive to their busy season run-ins.
Fairclough said: “Everyone will get minutes. We’re getting to that stage of the football season where there are players who have been nursing through knocks.
“We’ve got one or two here who we’ve had to handle in the right way. They’ve come away here and had good treatment. We’ll demand from them but we’ll be sensible with them.
“We’re aware they’ve all got really important games this weekend. We’ve got to be sensitive to the managers because they are great with us.
“John Still, who is obviously at the top with Luton, has been very supportive over the years. He was very supportive when he was in the Conference before, as are the majority of the managers.
“The Prince of Jordan will be in attendance at the game so it’s a really big event in Amman. It’s not a full international so we’re not expecting a huge turnout. But it’s another chapter for the England C team, another chance to be exposed to a different style of football and an opportunity to book a place on the plane for the game against Slovakia.”
England C starting XI v Jordan U23: Coughlin; MacDonald, Franks, Holland, Demetriou; Marsh-Brown, Payne, Berry, Frear; Norwood, Gray. Subs: Lloyd-Weston, Fitchett, Gallagher, Turley, Pearson.
