Patterson wins England U21 call for France and Croatia friendlies
Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has been called up to England’s under21s squad for the first time.
Despite being 22, the Black Cats stopper is eligible to play for The Young Lions as he was young enough when qualifying began for this summer’s European Championships.
Lee Carsley’s side are preparing for friendly matches against France (Saturday, March 25) and Croatia (Tuesday, March 28) during this month’s international break.
Patterson has started all 37 league games for Sunderland this season, leading to reported interest from Premier League clubs such as Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
When asked about a potential international callup for Patterson last month, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray said: “I’ve been in this job a long time, in football management, and I have to say the temperament of the goalkeeper we’ve got is just fantastic really.
"(He’s) just a big, steady young guy who doesn’t get too uptight about anything.
“His personality is so measured, it’s amazing really and he finds a way to keep that ball out of the net, helps the team with balls into the box.
"His distribution is improving so there is lots of positives.”
In terms of senior callups, defenders Daniel Ballard
and Trai Hume have been named in Northern Ireland's squad for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Michael O'Neill’s side will travel to San Marino on Thursday, March 23, before facing Finland at Windsor Park on Sunday March 26.
Manchester United loanee Amad has also been named in Ivory Coast’s squad
for two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Comoros on Friday, March 24 and Tuesday, March 28.
Abdoullah Ba and Edouard Michut have been called up to France’s under20s squad for three friendly matches.
After representing France at younger age groups, Michut, 20, will be hoping to make his first appearance for the under-20s side, following his first Sunderland goal in Wednesday’s Championship defeat to Sheffield United at the Stadium of Light.
The PSG loanee had to wait until December to make his first start in the Championship, but has started seven of the side’s last nine league fixtures.
Ba, who signed a five-year deal on Wearside last summer, has also impressed in recent weeks, scoring his first Black Cats goal in the side’s 1-0 win at Norwich City.
France’s under-20s squad will face USA (March 22), Netherlands (March 25) and England in Marbella as they prepare for this summer’s Under-20s World Cup.
Sunderland’s first game after the international break is against league leaders Burnley on Friday, March 31, after the Championship match was moved forward for TV broadcast.
They play host to fourthplaced Luton Town today 12th in the Championship table themselves, and eight points adrift of the play-off places with nine games to play.