Academy players on international duty

Nineteen-year-old Hannibal has represented Tunisia at both the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA Arab Cup in the last six months, helping the Carthage Eagles to the final of the latter competition. He will once again be involved with the senior side, who have a double-header against Mali in World Cup qualification, with the games played on Friday 25 March (17:00) and Tuesday 29 March (20:30).

Zidane Iqbal made his senior international debut with Iraq in January and keeps his place in the squad. Zidane was born in Whalley Range in Manchester, the son of a Pakistani father and Iraqi mother. He explained his pride in getting to represent Iraq to us earlier this year. The Lions of Mesopotamia play United Arab Emirates (Thursday 24 March, 17:00) and Syria (Tuesday 29 March, 17:00) in World Cup qualifiers.

While Anthony Elanga has been rewarded for his stellar first-team form with a first Sweden call-up, 21-year-old midfielder Dylan Levitt, currently on loan with Dundee United, is in the Wales squad once again. Levitt first joined the senior set-up in May 2019 and has since made 10 appearances. The Dragons have a crucial match coming up, taking on Austria at home in a World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final (Thursday 24 March, 19:45).

Alejandro Garnacho makes it four continents on which Academy players will represent their nations. The 17-year-old winger joins the Argentina squad this week for the first time, having proudly played for Spain’s Under-18s side in the past. Madrid-born with Argentinian heritage, he’s now excited to be representing La Albiceleste.

At youth levels, seven young Reds have been called up to partake in England squads at various age groups. James Garner will look to continue his good form with loan club Nottingham Forest when he features for the Under-21s in matches against Andorra (Friday 25 March, 19:45) and Albania (Tuesday 29 March, 19:45). Both of those matches are UEFA Under-21 Euro qualifiers.

Two trios are in the U18s and U17s squad. Dan Gore, Sam Mather and Shola Shoretire could feature for the U18s as they take on Sweden (Friday 25 March, 14:30) and Denmark (Monday 28 March, 11:00) at the Marbella Football Centre in Spain in friendlies. Tyler Fredricson, Kobbie Mainoo, and Habeeb Ogunneye will compete in the UEFA U17 Euro Elite Round, the final stage of qualifying for the U17 Euros. England must navigate a group that includes France and Luxembourg. Russia were also in Group 5 but have been banned due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Elsewhere in Europe, Isak Hansen is part of the Norway U19s squad, while Maxi Oyedele will get game time with Poland U18s as they play a double-header of friendlies against Switzerland (Wednesday 23 March and Friday 25 March, both 15:00).

Alvaro Fernandez’s Spain U19s play in a mini-tournament in Benidorm against Austria (Wednesday 23 March, 17:00) and Denmark (Tuesday 29 March, 17:00). Martin Svidersky’s Slovakia U21s have two important Euro qualifiers against Northern Ireland (Friday 25 March, 15:00) and Spain (Tuesday 29 March, 15:00).

Two United goalkeepers are with Czech Republic’s teams this week. Matej Kovar is included in the U21s squad as they play Albania and Andorra, while Ondrej Mastny’s U20s will play Portugal and Poland in friendlies.

All times above in GMT.

Players out on loan
Dylan Levitt (Wales)
Matej Kovar (Czech Republic U21)
James Garner (England U21)
Ethan Galbraith (Northern Ireland U21)

Players at the club
Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina)
Zidane Iqbal (Iraq)
Hannibal (Tunisia)
Martin Svidersky (Slovakia U21)
Ondrej Mastny (Czech Republic U20)
Isak Hansen-Aaroen (Norway U19)
Maxi Oyedele (Poland U19)
Alvaro Fernandez (Spain U19)
Daniel Gore (England U18)
Sam Mather (England U18)
Shola Shoretire (England U18)
Tyler Fredricson (England U17)
Kobbie Mainoo (England U17)
Habeeb Ogunneye (England U17)