Jake Forster-Caskey has been named in England under-21s’ initial squad for the finals of the European Championships next month.

The Albion midfielder was included in Gareth Southgate’s longlist of 27 names released this morning.

That will be trimmed to 23 players ahead of departure to the Czech Republic.

Forster-Caskey played in both legs of the qualifying play-off against Croatia and has been a regular in the set-up for the past year.

But he faces increased competition in midfield after Ruben Loftus-Cheeks, who recently made his Premier League debut for Chelsea, received a first call-up.

The final 23-man squad will report to St George’s Park on June 2 and play a friendly against Belarus at Barnsley before departing to their tournament base in Olomouc.

Former Albion loanee Jesse Lingard is also part of the initial squad.