2017’S GOLDEN GENERATION COMES OF AGE

CONOR GALLAGHER has become the latest member of the 2017 ‘Golden Generation’ to graduate into the England seniors.

The Chelsea midfielder, on a season-long loan at Crystal Palace, is the fifth player from the U-17 World Cup-winning squad (above) to be called up by Gareth Southgate.

Gallagher joins Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Emile Smith Rowe and Callum Hudson-odoi to have got the call for the senior squad, underlining the importance of the youth set-up at St George’s Park.

For years, the FA used to wheel out the mantra of a winning mentality, needing to play through the age groups and how the 2022 World Cup would be England’s time because that is when the ‘Golden Generation’ was coming of age. Foden is the prodigious talent. Sancho the exciting winger who learned his trade in Germany. Smith Rowe has enjoyed a remarkable 2021 at Arsenal. Hudson-odoi graduated quickly and is now getting frustrated at not making the squad.

Gallagher, 21, bided his time because he has struggled to get minutes at Chelsea, but has been on loan at Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and now Palace. He could still get an England cap before he plays for his parent club.

That is the way of the world now for young players, but Three Lions boss Southgate believes the circumstances are right for the players to graduate through the age groups.

He said: “It’s definitely something that was our aim at St George’s Park, to have an environment where players could do what they have done this week, where they are in with the U-21s and it’s a smooth transition across to be with us.

“But also the more winning experiences they could have, the more big-match experience they can have and the feeling of playing well and succeeding in an England shirt that’s definitely been something that through Dan Ashworth, Matt Crocker, now John Mcdermott, is a desire for us.”

Gallagher was close to getting into Southgate’s squad even before Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice pulled out.

Southgate has watched him closely at Palace, but says any comparisons to David Beckham – largely because of his hairstyle – are way off. He added:

“I’m not sure David Beckham would be very happy about that. He’s a totally different sort of player. “We’ve tracked him for a very long time in his loan spells and he has done extremely well.

“We talked about him when we named the original squad. It’s one of the benefits of being with the U-21s because it was an easy transition.”