Fantastic Foden comes to the rescue for Boothroyd’s boys

PERSEVERANCE paid off for England’s new-look Under 21s last night as two goals in a minute avoided a continuation of the summer gloom. Turkey were strangling the Young Lions before a switch in formation prompted a resurgence and three morale-boosting points. Eddie Nketiah pounced to make it 2-2 with 16 minutes remaining before suspect goalkeeping allowed Reiss Nelson’s shot to sneak in. Fortunate, sure, but that will not matter for a squad still getting to know each other. This European Championship qualifying group will be in their hands if they beat Kosovo in Hull on Monday. ‘We got put on our backsides and we had to respond,’ said manager Aidy Boothroyd. ‘A lot of teams would go under in that atmosphere. We don’t just want a team who can win but one that plays with style.’ Play they certainly did, Manchester

City midfielder Phil Foden the standout with two assists. His instinctive dart beyond the strikers made the opening goal, a cross finding Nketiah to stab in. But Dogukan Sinik levelled on 25 minutes and Mert Muldur put the hosts ahead six minutes into the second half when England switched off at a corner. Boothroyd’s 5-3-2 became 4-3-3 and England regained control. Foden danced towards goal and again found Nketiah, who slipped in the equaliser. Seconds later, Nelson found space on the edge of the box and drove at his man, his eventual effort deflecting off his marker and fooling goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.