Chelsea whiz-kid Callum Hudson-Odoi broke a 64-year-old record to become the youngest player to make his England debut in a competitive match when he came on during the Three Lions’ 5-0 win against Czech Republic in the EURO 2020 qualifier on Friday.
Hudson-Odoi came on for Raheem Sterling after 70 minutes to earn his first international cap at the age of 18 years 135 days, breaking the record set by former Manchester United forward Duncan Edwards.
Edwards was 48 days older than Hudson-Odoi when he made his Three Lions debut in a British Home Championship tie against Scotland in April 1955.
The tricky wideman made an impact too, with his late curling effort parried by goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka into the path of Tomas Kalas, who inadvertently deflected to ball into his in own net to complete the scoring.
Hudson-Odoi’s introduction meant England ended the game with two 18-year-olds on the pitch with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho handed his first competitive start.
It’s the first time England have had two players aged 18 or younger in an international match in 138 years, going back to a meeting with Wales on February 26th, 1881.
Hudson-Odoi was originally called-up to the England Under-21 squad but was promoted to the senior side after the squad was hit by a number of withdrawals.
That is despite not yet starting a Premier League game for Chelsea, with his long-term future at Stamford Bridge uncertain.
Next up for Southgate’s side is a game against Montenegro in Podgorica on Monday.
