Town striker Connor Wickham is hoping to start when the England U21s take on Iceland in a friendly at Preston’s Deepdale this evening (ESPN 7.30pm). Academy keeper Cody Cropper is also in international action later today.

Wickham was a late sub in Thursday’s 4-0 victory in Denmark but looks likely to be on the field from the start as he wins his third U21 cap today, fellow strikers Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck having returned to their clubs.

The Blues frontman, who is 18 on Thursday, says he wants coach Stuart Pearce to see what he can do: “I just want to get playing football at the highest level. I’m away with England now and I just want to show the gaffer and everyone else what I'm capable of, to be in the mindset for the summer and for future England games."

Wickham, who was part of the side which won the European U17 Championship in Liechtenstein last summer, is hoping to be involved in winning competition action again this year at the European U21 Championship in Denmark: “It'd be another summer tournament and I'd want to win another summer tournament.

“It would be difficult but if we play to the potential that's in our team then we can beat anyone on the day, I think."

The frontman, who recently won the Football League Young Player and Championship Apprentice Player of the Year awards, feels his campaign is going well: "I think this season I've got the football I've wanted to play and that I've needed to play and I've got the goals that I've needed to boost my confidence.

“Any football is going to help any footballer, so I just want to keep playing as much football as I can, no matter what level it’s at.”

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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