Olly Groome reports
Academy graduate Ezri Konsa has been called up to the England U20 squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup tournament in South Korea.
The 19-year-old defender was initially part of the Young Lions squad which is to take part in this summer’s Toulon Tournament in France but, after being on standby, has now been promoted to the squad which will compete for the right to be named world champions.
Konsa’s first international call came in March, but he was forced to pull out of the squad with injury and will now be hoping to make his England bow at the World Cup, which kicks off on Friday.
England begin their Group A campaign against Argentina in Jeonju on May 20th and take on Guinea at the same venue three days later.
The group stage is rounded off on May 26th when England head to Suwon to face hosts South Korea before, hopefully, advancing through to the quarter-final stage.
Konsa, who made 39 first-team appearances during his first season in senior football last term and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year, will reunite with fellow Addicks graduate Ademola Lookman in the squad, which is managed by former Manchester City and Derby County midfielder Paul Simpson.