Club

International Update | Mengi rejoins England U21 squad

After missing England Under-21s' 5-1 win in Azerbaijan last week, Hatters central defender Teden Mengi has rejoined Lee Carsley's squad ahead of the 2025 Euro qualifier against Luxembourg.

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After initially joining up with the national squad for the first time at that age group at St George's Park after the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, the 21-year-old former Manchester United youngster returned to the Brache on Tuesday for further medical assessment.

However, after being given the all-clear in what is clearly positive news for Town supporters, Teden has rejoined the U21s and is available for their game at Bolton's Toughsheet Stadium on Tuesday night, kick-off 7pm.

With Issa Kabore not travelling to join up with Burkina Faso and Gabe Osho missing out on his first call-up to the Nigeria squad through injury, it has been left to Daiki Hashioka, Chieo Ogbene and Thomas Kaminski to fly the senior flag on international duty in recent days.

Hashioka won his eighth full cap for Japan in their 2026 World Cup qualifying win over North Korea in Tokyo on Thursday night.

The Town defender went on with 14 minutes remaining to help his side see out a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a second-minute goal from Ao Tanaka, to make it three wins from three Asian Group B qualifiers so far, with Tuesday's return meeting in Pyongyang cancelled.

Two Hatters were up against each other in friendly action at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, although Ogbene's 20th appearance for the Republic of Ireland ended in the 70th minute, when he was subbed off, before Thomas Kaminski was introduced for his first cap for Belgium 13 minutes later.

Ogbene had a couple of opportunities but couldn't find a way past Nottingham Forest keeper Matz Sels, who was replaced by Hatters keeper Kaminski who helped preserve the clean sheet in the goalless draw.

Congratulations to Thomas from everyone at Kenilworth Road on your Red Devils debut!

The 31-year-old will hope for more minutes when the Belgians visit Wembley on Tuesday night to take on England in a 7.45pm kick-off, while Ogbene and Ireland play host to Switzerland in Dublin at the same time.

One young Luton Town player who did find the target on international duty at the weekend was youth team midfielder Dylan Stitt, who put Northern Ireland in front against France in a Euro U17 qualifier, only for the hosts to hit back to win 5-2 at St George's Park.

The young Irishmen had already been beaten 5-1 by England last Wednesday. They play their third game in Group A against Hungary tomorrow, 7pm kick-off.

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