Nketiah’s Shear joy for Aidy
Andorra Under-21 3 England Under-21 3
EDDIE NKETIAH has been urged to follow the example of Alan Shearer after equalling the England legend’s Under-21 goal record.
The Arsenal striker came off the bench to score his 13th goal for the Young Lions, a tally also reached by former Gunners striker Francis Jeffers.
Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd said: “Eddie is in esteemed company now, isn’t he? I am really pleased with him.
“If he can emulate the guy that he’s sharing the record with, he will have had a brilliant career at the end of it.”
England were denied victory against minnows Andorra, thanks to a 91st-minute equaliser by Christian Garcia on an artificial pitch.
But a win against Turkey at Molineux next week will send England to the two-part Euro 2021 finals, which start in March.
“The result is a warning that we have to be bang on every time we play,” admitted Boothroyd, after seeing their 100 per cent record in qualifying come to an end.
“It was a crazy game. We expected to come here and win, but they were strong and direct and put men behind the ball. The players are very down. The pitch was a leveller.”
Andorra took the lead in the 28th minute through Izan Fernandez.
Everton’s Tom Davies hit the equaliser with a 25-yard strike at the end of the first half before Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva put England ahead.
Fernandez tapped in his second to level on 76 minutes, before Nketiah grabbed the chance to make history next week.
But, in injury time, Garcia dinked over Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale to massive Andorran delight.