Gray starts and Scarlett scores as England Under-21s win big to secure Euros spot

Dane Scarlett scored his first goal for England Under-21s as he and Archie Gray enjoyed a resounding 7-0 victory over Azerbaijan to qualify for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championships on Tuesday evening.

A late addition into this age group, the striker - who played a part in their comeback win over Ukraine last time out - was introduced just after the hour mark and added a sixth as he acrobatically turned in from close range five minutes from time.

Dane, on loan at Championship side Oxford United this season, was not finished there either as he broke into the box and squared to Omari Hutchinson who completed the seven-goal rout in the final minute after Charlie Cresswell, Callum Doyle, James McAtee, Elliot Anderson plus a Calal Huseynov own-goal had already added to the tally.

The versatile Gray kept his place in the starting side and played 71 minutes in centre midfield on a night where the Young Lions were purring at Ashton Gate to book their place in next summer's Under-21 European tournament in Slovakia in some style.