Manchester City quintet called up to England Under-21s squad

The 18-year-old's impressive breakthrough season with Pep Guardiola's side has been rewarded with his first-ever call-up to the Young Lions' Under-21 set-up.

Since and including his senior City debut in August, Lewis has made 17 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring his first and only goal in a 3-1 Champions League victory over Sevilla in November.

The academy graduate has regularly forced his way into Guardiola's side ahead of full-backs Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo, the latter of whom now plies his trade on loan at Bayern Munich.

Lewis, who has previously represented England at Under-16s, Under-18s and Under-19s level, had been tipped to be selected for Gareth Southgate's senior England squad this month.

However, the right-back will instead link up with Lee Carsley's Under-21s side along with fellow Man City youngsters Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Tommy Doyle and James Trafford.

Palmer has spent the last few seasons in Guardiola's senior squad and the versatile 20-year-old attacker has impressed for the England Under-21s since receiving his first call-up in September, scoring two goals in four appearances.

Meanwhile, McAtee, Doyle and Trafford are all currently gaining valuable first-team experience out on loan, with the former two playing regularly for Championship promotion chasers Sheffield United.

McAtee - who made his England Under-21s debut in June last year - has contributed with five goals and two assists in 34 games at Bramall Lane, while fellow midfielder Doyle - a six-cap Under-21 international - has recorded three goals and five assists in 28 matches for the Blades.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Trafford has been a first-team regular between the sticks for League One side Bolton Wanderers this season, keeping 21 clean sheets in 41 games across all competitions, while he has also featured twice for the Young Lions.

The likes of Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, Chelsea's Noni Madueke and Arsenal duo Emile Smith Rowe and Folarin Balogun - the latter of whom is on loan at Reims - have also been included in Carsley's 26-man squad.

England Under-21s will face France at the King Power Stadium on March 25, before taking on Croatia at Craven Cottage three days later.

ENGLAND UNDER-21s SQUAD IN FULL:

Goalkeepers: Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion), Anthony Patterson (Sunderland), Carl Rushworth (Lincoln City), James Trafford (Bolton Wanderers - on loan from Manchester City)

Defenders: Max Aarons (Norwich City), Jarrad Braithwaite (PSV Eindhoven - on loan from Everton), Levi Colwill (Brighton & Hove Albion - on loan from Chelsea), Charlie Cresswell (Millwall - on loan from Leeds United), Ben Johnson (West Ham United), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Djed Spence (Rennes - on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Thomas (Leicester City)

Midfielders: Tommy Doyle (Sheffield United - on loan from Manchester City), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), James Garner (Everton), Angel Gomes (Lille), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), James McAtee (Sheffield United - on loan from Manchester City), Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa), Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur)

Forwards: Cameron Archer (Middlesborough - on loan from Aston Villa), Folarin Balogun (Reims - on loan from Arsenal), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Manchester City), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)