Leeds United teenager Archie Gray makes England history with well-taken goal on U21 debut
Leeds United youngster Archie Gray capped his England Under-21 debut with a goal on Friday afternoon as the Young Lions dispatched of Azerbaijan by five goals to one in Baku.
Gray was introduced late on in the game but still managed to get himself on the scoresheet, receiving infield from Brooke Norton-Cuffy's low pass before finishing confidently beyond the Azerbaijan goalkeeper to put the icing on a convincing team performance.
In doing so, Gray becomes the fourth-youngest player to score for England's Under-21 side at the age of 18 years and 10 days old. Only Jude Bellingham, Theo Walcott and Jamal Musiala have scored goals at a younger age for England's U21 side.
Gray was praised by England boss Gareth Southgate prior to his maiden U21 call-up last week, the Three Lions boss saying the Leeds teenager was developing 'exceptionally well', along with a trio of Premier League regulars.
"There are some players with the Under-21s who are doing exceptionally well, especially in midfield," Southgate said, upon announcing the senior squad earlier this month. "The likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Harvey Elliott - Rico [Lewis] was with us last time - Archie Gray at Leeds is doing very, very well I have to say, so there are a number of players in that group we could move in."
The Leeds youngster only made his professional debut at the beginning of 2023/24 but has gone on to play in excess of 40 times for Daniel Farke's Whites outfit who currently sit top of the Championship table. The 18-year-old had a strike chalked off last month as Leeds defeated Leicester City at Elland Road; the teenager's late attempt judged to have beaten goalkeeper Mads Hermansen via a heavy deflection off Foxes defender Wout Faes.
Gray's club-mate Charlie Cresswell was an unused substitute for Lee Carsley's side in their 5-1 rout of Azerbaijan. England's next encounter is at Bolton Wanderers' Toughsheet Community Stadium next Tuesday against Luxembourg.