Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes that Jack Wilshere and Raheem Sterling should drop down from the senior England side to compete in next summer's European Under-21 Championships.
Gareth Southgate's side will take on Croatia in a qualifying playoff this evening after winning nine out of their 10 group games.
Scholes has used Spain's Juan Mata as an example by referring to his involvement in the squad that won the 2010 World Cup.
After his stint with the senior side, the now-United midfielder returned to the Under-21s the following summer to help them clinch the European Championship title.
Scholes wrote in his column for The Independent: "If it is good enough for Mata, why not English lads, too? Should Southgate's team make it to the tournament, I would advocate taking Raheem Sterling and Jack Wilshere to the tournament next summer, even though they are well established in the senior team."
The tournament next year will be staged in the Czech Republic.
Danielle Joynson
