‘STICK’ AIMED AT SENIORS ANGERS LEVI

England U-21 v Germany U-21 International friendly, Wembley, KO 7.45pm

CHELSEA starlet Levi Colwill has defended England’s under-fire senior stars and suggested the snipers have no clue what footballers have to deal with.

But the 19-year-old defender, on-loan at Brighton (below), says players like Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw will battle through the flak with the help of their team-mates.

Colwill, who is expected to play for the Three Lions Under-21 side against Germany in Sheffield tonight, said even players at his level have to steel themselves to deal with the critics.

“Unless you are a footballer, unless you do what we do every day, you shouldn’t be giving stick,” said Colwill (in action against Italy’s U-21s last Thursday, top).

“People comment on your life, on and off the pitch, when they don’t live it. When you’re in the bubble, you focus on yourself and the team.”

And he said that, while the players immerse themselves in the “bubble” of their club or national squads, it does not protect them from the fiercest stick.

“It’s too easy to say just to blur it out because you go on your phone, turn on the radio – you hear it all. But you have to try and not let them take your confidence. They do make it feel like it’s you against the world.

“The senior team will all support each other, which is brilliant. They will be fine for the World Cup.

“For me, whatever people say won’t affect me. They are not me, who are they to comment on how I’m playing or what I’m like? The only people who can really tell me is my family and coaches. If you cannot influence my life, why would I listen?”

Colwill suggested criticism comes with the job, but that it goes too far, and added: “There is a line but people are always going to criticise anything you do in life.

“People outside the bubble don’t understand how much it can affect players. You can’t bite back, you’ve got to let your football do the talking.”

Colwill helped Huddersfield to the Championship play-off final last term, so he says he has not been troubled by too much hammer.

“I had a good year last year – the only stick I got was from Forest fans after the play-off final!” he added.

Stoke keeper Joe Bursik has left the U-21 squad to return to his club. Brighton keeper Carl Rushworth, on loan at Lincoln, has replaced him.