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Magpies trio in England action
Written by Tom Easterby
A trio of Newcastle United youngsters were in action for England’s youth sides on Thursday, with Adam Armstrong, Freddie Woodman and Lewis Gibson all featuring for the Young Lions.
Woodman, who is currently on loan at Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, started for England Under-20s in their 2-2 draw with Portugal in their first game in the Four Nations tournament in France, while Armstrong, who is currently with Barnsley for the season, was named among the substitutes.
Goals from Dominic Solanke and Patrick Roberts put England – who are coached by Paul Simpson, who worked for the Magpies under Steve McClaren – in charge before the break at the Stade Chateau Bily in Saint Brieuc, with Woodman making a fine save at the other end to deny Ruben Dias.
But in the second period Portugal rallied, and after another Woodman stop, Francisco Ferreira pulled one back.
And Helder Ferreira’s strike in added time at the end of the game meant that Simpson’s side would have to settle for a draw.
Woodman played the full 90 minutes in goal, while Armstrong was introduced in the 74th minute to replace Ademola Lookman, but he couldn’t get his name on the scoresheet.
The pair will now hope to be involved when England face France on Saturday and then Senegal on Tuesday as their preparations for the World Cup continue.
Teenage defender Gibson, meanwhile, was part of the England Under-17 squad that earned a 5-3 victory over the Czech Republic in their European Under-17 Championship qualifier elite round tie.
Braces from Rhian Fewster and Phil Foden added to a Morgan Gibbs-White strike to rack up the win for Steve Cooper’s youngsters in Bijeljina, who will now face Slovenia on Saturday and hosts Bosnia on Tuesday.
Gibson – the younger brother of Magpies Under-23s full back Liam – was an unused substitute against the Czech Republic.