Ethan Wheatley scores match winner upon return to England youth setup | OneFootball

Ethan Wheatley scored the match-winner for England U18s in their 4-2 win over Northern Ireland at St. George’s Park on Wednesday.

After an impressive season, which included winning the U18s treble and earning the Young Player of the Year and Reserve Player of the Year awards respectively, Ethan Wheatley and Elyh Harrison were called up to England’s U18 team to take part in two friendlies.

The call up saw Wheatley return to the England set-up for the first time since September 2022, when he had played once for the England U17 team.

Both United players started the first of two friendlies with Wheatley donning the number nine shirt, meanwhile United’s Will Murdock featured on the bench for Northern Ireland.

England took an early lead through Aston Villa’s Kadan Young before another Birmingham native in Romelle Donovan doubled the lead in the 16th minute.

Wheatley then added the third in the 25th minute from close-range after Manchester City’s Matty Henderson-Hall squared the ball to him.

In a rich vein of form, Wheatley can’t seem to stop scoring, having notched 19 goals in 20 appearances for United U18s.

The United academy forward then had a chance to double his tally shortly after from the penalty spot but saw his effort stopped by Mason Munn.

Harrison made a good save early in the second half but the 18-year-old couldn’t keep his clean sheet as Northern Ireland looked to mount a comeback with a clinical finish from Dylan Stitt.

Northern Ireland then added a second through Braiden Graham, who is the youngest player to feature for Linfield, a feat he achieved last year when he was handed his senior club debut by David Healy.

An interesting United connection, Healy is a former Manchester United academy graduate who came through the ranks under Sir Alex Ferguson, making three appearances for United’s first team.

England held on though, even going on to add a late fourth as the game ended 4-2. Wheatley got 55 minutes under his belt, while Harrison played the full 90.

The United duo will now face off against Morocco on Sunday as England host the African side for the first time ever on home soil.

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