Harry Gray secures England call-up as Sheffield Wednesday youngster faces new challenge
Sheffield Wednesday attacker Harry Gray has been named in the latest England Under-19s squad.
Sheffield Wednesday loanee Harry Gray has secured his first call-up to the England Under-19s squad ahead of the upcoming international break.
The teenager, who joined Wednesday on a season-long loan from Leeds United in July, has previously represented the Three Lions at U15, U16 and U17 level.
The 17-year-old will now have the opportunity to prove his worth in Ben Futcher’s 24-man squad as the Three Lions youngsters navigate their way through a quartet of friendlies.
England will get their international break schedule underway with a clash against the Republic of Ireland at St George’s Park on Friday, September 25, before heading to Spain for another three fixtures.
Playing each of their three friendlies at the Marbella Football Centre, Futcher’s side will take on Norway on Tuesday, September 29, the USA on Friday, October 2, before completing their schedule against Belgium on Monday, October 5.
The clashes with Ireland, Norway, the USA and Belgium will offer England’s youngsters the opportunity to prepare for their European Championship qualifiers, which get underway later this year. Futcher’s side will compete in Group A4 alongside Austria, Belarus and Slovenia.
Gray, who will be pushing for a starting berth when Wednesday take on Stockport County at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon, has been included in the squad alongside fellow Owls loanee Jaden Heskey’s brother, Reigan, who joined German club FC Köln from Manchester City during the summer transfer window.
Gray, who is still searching for his first Owls goal, will be hoping to make his mark at U19 level after impressing at younger age levels. The versatile attacker will celebrate his 18th birthday three days after England’s final game of the upcoming international break.
The Leeds loanee is the seventh Wednesday player to earn an international call-up this week, following in the footsteps of Kieran Morrison, Sean Fusire, Ali Al-Hamadi, Yan Valery, Will Grainger and Logan Stretch.