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Alex Off To The Algarve
Written by Newcastle Utd
Youngster Alex Gilliead has been chosen for the England under-17 squad for next month's Algarve Tournament
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Magpies youngster Alex Gilliead has been chosen for the England under-17 squad for next month's Algarve Tournament in Portugal.
The 16-year-old from Consett is part of a 20-man group for the competition, which will see the Young Lions take on Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands between Friday, 8th February and Tuesday, 12th February.
And the tournament serves as a warm-up for the European Under-17 Championships elite qualifying round which takes place in March, with Gilliead also hoping to be involved in those fixtures.
The pacy winger or forward has won three caps at under-17 level so far and, speaking to the official Newcastle United matchday programme last month, said: "Being away with England and representing your country is an unreal experience.
"I've played for the under-16s and latterly the under-17s, in the first stage of the European Championship qualifiers against Wales, Estonia and Northern Ireland. We're playing Portugal, Slovenia and Russia in the next stage in the summer so hopefully I get to go there. We should be the strongest team in that group and if we get through, we go to the Euros."
England won the tournament last year, with United's Adam Campbell part of the squad.
This year's squad is: Dan Atkinson (Leeds United), Angus Gunn (Manchester City), Josh Aina (Chelsea), Ricardo Calder (Aston Villa), Joseph Gomez (Charlton Athletic), Callum Jones (West Bromwich Albion), Ben O'Hanlon (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Connor Ogilvie (Tottenham Hotspur), Bamidele Alli (MK Dons), Reise Alassani (Crystal Palace), Kean Bryan (Manchester City), Charlie Colkett (Chelsea), Dan Crowley (Aston Villa), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Bryn Morris (Middlesbrough), Mason Bennett (Derby County), Alex Gilliead (Newcastle United), George Green (Everton), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Ryan Seagar (Southampton).