CITY pair Declan Rudd and Ryan Bennett have been called up to the England under-21 squad for the Young Lions upcoming qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Norway.

Stuart Pearce’s squad will travel to Baku for their first European Championship qualifying match against Azerbaijan in Baku on September 6 (kick-off 4pm), followed by a home clash with Norway at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium on September 10 (kick-off 7pm) as England’s youngsters look to get off to the best of starts.

Defender Ryan Bennett will look to add to his one cap he picked up for the Young Lions in their 2-1 win over Norway in October 2011, having not featured in their 4-0 win over Belgium under-21’s in February, despite being picked.

This is the second call-up for City stopper Declan Rudd at this level having represented his country at other age groups from Under-16 upwards.

Rudd is yet to claim his first under-21 cap despite being called up in August 2011, but will look to get his first cap under his belt at this level against Azerbaijan or Norway.

The pair featured in the Canaries 2-1 Capital One Cup victory over Scunthorpe United on August 28, Rudd making his first appearance in goal since facing West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League last season.

England Under-21 squad - Goalkeepers: Ben Amos (Hull City – on loan from Manchester United), Declan Rudd (Norwich City), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)

Defenders: Ryan Bennett (Norwich City), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion), Martin Kelly (Liverpool), Ben Marshall (Leicester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Smith (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Thomas Ince (Blackpool), Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest). Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McEachran (Middlesbrough – on loan from Chelsea), Jack Rodwell (Manchester City), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool), Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Marvin Sordell (Bolton Wanderers), Connor Wickham (Sunderland), Martyn Waghorn (Leicester City)

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