SOME of England's hottest young football talent will be on show on Friday night at the Reebok Stadium as David Platt's under-21s entertain Yugoslavia writes Richard Mulligan
Platt has, to some extent, had to start from scratch for this first game of the season because his stars of last year, such as David Dunn, Alan Smith and John Terry, are now too old to qualify for his side.
However, Michael Carrick, Francis Jeffers, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Barry are still available, while promising individuals such as Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant will also now look to use the Under-21s as a springboard to the full squad.
It is Platt's responsiblity to turn these young hopefuls into fully fledged internationals, just as he has done recently with Dunn, Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves.
But the boss himself is keeping tight-lipped about who he feels will be next to make the breakthrough.
Platt says: "It would be unfair to pick out a particular player because I'm seeing many of them for the first time this week, but Francis Jeffers has the ability.
"Gareth Barry is another one that has always been fantastic for me. It will be a surprise to a lot of people that he is still under 21-years-old, he was picked for the full squad at a very young age - maybe too young.
"But the chance will only come about when there is an opening in Sven's squad, just as has happened with David Dunn this week.
"For me, it's nice to see former players go on and grab their opportunities, but it is also exciting to have a new crop of players."
Although he has a squad full of quality, Platt does not intend making the wholesale changes during tomorrow night's game which have dogged friendlies in the past, as he now believes that multi-substitutions are pointless.
The former Juventus and Arsenal player already has his sights set on the first European qualifier in Slovakia next month and the Championship finals in two years time, and wants to learn as much as possible about his players before then.
Platt says: "I don't think that you learn a great deal by chopping and changing during games.
"I will only have eight qualifying games and maybe half a dozen friendlies between now and the finals in 2004, so I want to get things as settled as possible.
"I already have a team in my mind for tomorrow, and I hope a large percentage of the team that plays in Bolton will be around for the next two years.
"Our goal is the European Championships, which I believe we have the ability and set-up to win."
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