Young Lions in action

Blair Turgott and Matthias Fanimo were both on England duty today as England began the defence of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship crown.

The attack-minded Hammers duo - both regulars in Tony Carr's Under-18 team - came off the subsitutes' bench in the opening game against Sweden in Tbilisi. England were in command when they arrived, thanks to a Hallam Hope double and a Nicholas Powell effort.

Turgott and Fanimo have stepped up from helping the Young Lions win the Victory Shield at U16 level last season and are part of an 18-man squad that have headed to Georgia for the qualifying mini-tournament.

England's second game will be against the host nation on Wednesday. They then conclude the section with a game against Poland on Saturday 23 October. The two nations will progress to the Elite round next spring.

Meanwhile, young Academy centre-back Leo Chambers made his England Under-16 debut last Friday for the 2010 Victory Shield opener. The young Hammer was captain but the Young Lions went down 4-0 in Haverfordwest, although the scoreline - including two penalties - was harsh on England.