YOUNG CITY goalkeeper Declan Rudd played in two of the three England Under-19 qualifying games for the UEFA European Championship.

The Young Lions were in Slovenia to play three qualifying matches against Finland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Rudd started the first two matches, both of which England won 3-1. Last Friday goals from Aston Villa's Nathan Delfouneso, Chelsea's Jacob Mellis and Tottenham Hotspur's Dean Parrett saw off Finland. Two days later Noel Blake's side beat the hosts courtesy of goals from Ryan Donaldson of Newcastle United, Jacob Mellis and Roarie Deacon of Arsenal.

Having already qualified Blake made several changes bringing in James Severn of Derby County for Rudd between the sticks for the final game against Slovakia earlier today. England won 2-0 to top the group with a perfect record - with goals from Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea's Jacob Mellis - who scored in every game.

England Under-19s qualify alongside Slovakia from Group 2 for the Elite Round to be played between March and May 2010. The 28 teams who progress from the qualifying round will compete in seven groups of four in the Elite Round. From there only the group winners will progress on to the Finals in France, in the summer of 2010.