West Brom duo Gallagher and Griffiths receive England call-up for U21 Euros
West Brom duo Conor Gallagher and Josh Griffiths have been called up to the England U21 squad for next week’s European Championship group stages.
The youth tournament was initially scheduled to take place from June 9-26 but the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic has seen its dates revised and the group stages will now be played in the March international break from March 24-30.
Albion will have a couple of representatives in the shape of Gallagher and Griffiths who have both impressed this season.
Gallagher is only on loan from Chelsea but the 21-year-old has won the hearts of the Albion faithful after some spirited displays this season and is one of the few players that can emerge from the current campaign with any credit in the bank.
Meanwhile 19-year-old Griffiths is in the middle of a season-long loan at Cheltenham Town where he has played all-but one of their 34 League Two games to help guide the Robins to top spot in England’s fourth-tier.
Big Baggies boost
This is a terrific double boost that reflects brilliantly on the club.
On the one hand we have allowed a prodigious talent in Griffiths to gain vital experience in a competitive league and this highlights the good work being done in the youth ranks to nurture first-team players for the future.
Salford City are the only side to conceded fewer League Two goals than Cheltenham this season and Griffiths has been a huge reason as to why they have remained so resolute.
It speaks volumes of his abilities that he will be rubbing shoulders with Premier League players especially considering he is the only member of the squad to be plying his trade below the Championship.
Meanwhile Gallagher is not ours to keep but we have proven to be a safe haven for elite clubs to send their emerging stars to, despite our struggles this season.
This bodes well for the future as clubs are unlikely to hesitate if we enquire for their youngsters when we show them the Gallagher route to success.
It may be a year we choose to forget quickly but at least there are some shoots of positivity from this season.
In other West Brom news, Lepkowski claims Pulis contrast could be the perfect Albion fit.
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