One Chelsea youngster has just earned his first ever call up to his nation’s Under 21 squad ahead of the upcoming qualifiers.

Announced on their official Twitter page, England tweeted that Carney Chukwuemeka had been included in the Under 21 squad for qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.

Chukwuemeka started the season as a starter for the Blues under current manager Mauricio Pochettino, with him finding the net for the club in just his second game of the season.

Photo by Amilcar Orfali – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

However, up to now that is the last time he started a game, with a serious injury ruling him out of most competitive action since then.

He has been seen back in the squad a number of times, although this has not gone without more setbacks to his fitness.

There is certainly an appetite for the youngster to make his first start of 2024 on Sunday when the Blues return to FA Cup action against Leicester City.

Chukwuemeka in England U21 squad

A suspension for Enzo Fernandez will see the boss have to make a rare rotation in his midfield, and presents the perfect chance for Chukwuemeka to appear again.

He will likely be on cloud nine too after being granted a call up to the U21s for the first time in his career.

He has certainly made an impression for the Young Lions in the past. He was part of the side who won the U19 Euros and picked up the player of the tournament award for the U20s too.

Chukwuemeka will be joined in the squad by Noni Madueke, who often saves some of his best performances for when he is featuring for the academy.

One player who had been featuring for this side in recent months but won’t be this time is Cole Palmer. The Chelsea man will instead represent the senior side and therefore look to make a case to Gareth Southgate ahead of this summer’s Euros.