While Gareth Southgate's senior team will aim to book their place at next year's World Cup in Russia, October is also a busy month for the Young Lions.

The England under-19 and under-20 squads have been announced for their respective international double-headers, with plenty of rising stars from the leading Premier League clubs on display.

Keith Downing has named a 21-strong squad as his under-20 side travel to Gorgonzola to play Italy on Thursday October 5, before returning to St George's Park for a behind-closed-doors friendly with the Czech Republic on October 10.

The squad features Arsenal youngsters Josh Dasilva and Stephy Mavididi, who is currently on loan at Preston North End. Ronaldo Vieira of Leeds United also features, as well as Benfica's Chris Willock.

The West Ham defender Reece Oxford, who is spending the season on loan in Germany with Borussia Monchengladbach, and Chelsea left-back Jay Dasilva, on loan at Charlton, are also selected.

Downing has called up Swindon Town goalkeeper Will Henry, MK Dons defender Callum Brittain and Bournemouth midfielder Connor Mahoney for the first time.

The under-20 side, who are defending World Cup champions, began the new campaign with a 3-0 win over Holland at Telford last month, before drawing 0-0 in Switzerland.

Meanwhile, World Cup-winning coach Paul Simpson, now in charge of the under-19 age group, has picked a 22-man squad for friendlies in the Czech Republic on Friday October 6 and Slovakia on Monday October 9.

The under-19s are the reigning European champions and six members of that winning squad - Chelsea quartet Trevoh Chalobah, Dujon Sterling, Reece James and Mason Mount, Nottingham Forest striker Ben Brereton and Fulham defender Ryan Sessegnon - are selected here.

There are also first call-ups for Everton defender Morgan Feeney and Manchester City's Sadou Diallo, both making the step up from Neil Dewsnip's under-18 squad.

Also in the squad are Arsenal trio Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock.

They began the new season with a 7-1 drubbing of Poland at St George's Park last month, but they were then beaten 3-1 by Germany at Mansfield.

This double-header will provide a warm-up for next month's preliminary round qualifying for the 2018 European Championships, that sees England face Bulgaria, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Should they finish in the top two of that group, they will progress to the elite qualifying round next March, the final hurdle before the finals in Finland.