Reading teens feature as England get European Championships underway with France win

Reading-raised teens Luca Fletcher and Christian Dunbar-McDonald featured for England as the Under-17s got their European Championships underway with a heavy win.

Greg Lincoln's side hammered France 4-0 in their opening group stage win, with goals from Mikey Moore, Baylee Dipepa and Ethan Nwaneri in Cyprus.

Fletcher came off the bench for the Young Lions with 17 minutes remaining, while Dunbar-McDonald played nine minutes.

16-year-old Fletcher, who moved to Manchester City last summer, earned the club a significant fee and sell-on for the coffers.

He had won Scholar of the Season for 2022/23 and was promised a professional contract this year had he turned down Manchester City.

The striker hit 10 goals in 17 appearances for the Under-18s in his debut campaign for the Citizens.

Dunbar-McDonald, a winger who left Berkshire in 2022, contributed four goals and five assists alongside Fletcher in East Manchester.

Portugal (Friday) and Spain (Monday) await in the remainder of the group, with the top two nations from each group will progress to the knockout stages.