Boothroyd keen to play down chances of his Young Lions

ENGLAND Under-21 boss Aidy Boothroyd refused to put any pressure on the Young Lions in Toulon as they aim for a third straight title.

The squad is aiming to continue the success of the age groups when it opens the tournament against China in Aubagne today.

The under-17s won the World Cup last year before the new crop was knocked out of Euro 2018 in the semifinals in England last week.

The under-19s won Euro 2017, the under-20s claimed a World Cup triumph while Boothroyd’s under-21s lost to Germany on penalties in their European semi-final in Poland last year.

England also triumphed at the Toulon Tournament in 2016 and 2017 but Boothroyd remained cautious on giving the new generation a label.

He said: “It is not a lead generation, it is not a platinum generation. I wouldn’t say it is a golden generation but we have more depth than we have ever had which is really, really important. Just getting them in the Premier League is a big thing.”

Tammy Abraham and Lewis Cook, who earned senior caps this season, are the most experienced in Boothroyd’s squad in France.

Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale and Chelsea’s Jay Dasilva won Euro 2017 while eight of the players who started the Under-20 World Cup final win over Venezuela last year, including Cook, Jonjoe Kenny and Kyle Walker-Peters, are in.

Boothroyd is without Liverpool winger Ovie Ejaria after he pulled out injured on Friday.