Crystal Palace midfielder handed England promotion 

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has been promoted to the England U21 squad.

The 20-year-old joined the Eagles in the January transfer window from Blackburn and has featured six times in the Premier League – starting every game since Oliver Glasner arrived.

Palace splashed an initial £18.5million on the midfielder.

He was initially called up to the England U20 squad –  playing 55 minutes in the 5-1 victory over Poland on Friday.

But he will now be involved in Lee Carsley’s squad for their 2025 U21 EURO qualifier against Luxembourg on Tuesday.

This is Wharton’s first involvement with the U21 squad, with James Trafford and Rico Lewis jumping up to Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.

Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who has been part of Carsley’s squad for the first time this week and travelled with the group for the 5-1 win over Azerbaijan, has now returned to Chelsea as he works his way back to full fitness.