Ged McNamee has paid tribute to Duncan Watmore and Jordan Pickford following their international call-ups to England’s under-21 side.
The duo both started in the Young Lions’ 1-0 win over Portugal last week, and the Sunderland pair impressed as Gareth Southgate’s side began the 2016 Toulon Tournament with a win.
Watmore also featured on Monday evening in a 7-1 mauling of Guinea as England made it two wins from two, with the speedster setting up the final goal for Fulham’s Cauley Woodrow.
Speaking to safc.com the academy manager hailed the England duo, explaining their progression is great for the club’s academy and their personal development.
“It’s great to have Duncan and Jordan away with England’s under-21s in Toulon,” said McNamee. “Once again it is a very good advertisement for the academy and it follows a good season with a number of our players making their first-team debuts.
“Duncan is a great character and he’s still young as far as the Premier League goes.”
He added: “He knows he still has work to do and he knows he needs to get stronger, but he’s a constant threat, he has pace and he stretches the game.
“And when you have somebody like Jordan Pickford, who has immense distribution, it’s a great option to have.“
