BURNLEY'S Michael Keane has been called up to the England Under-21 squad for their crucial two-legged play-off against Croatia, with the winners qualifying for Euro 2015.

While the on-loan Manchester United centre half makes the squad, there is no place for Nathaniel Chalobah and Danny Ings, who are struggling with throat and hamstring injuries respectively.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Gareth Southgate’s young lions take on the Croats in the first leg at Wolves’ Molineux home on October 10 before travelling to Vinkovci for the second leg on Tuesday, October 14.

Players with experience in the senior side such as Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers have been named in the under-21s, but Southgate said that shouldn’t be seen as a punishment.

“It shouldn’t be seen as players coming back down being some sort of punishment,” he said. “We have got to make that movement between the squads more fluid.

”It’s a positive message, to show they are prepared to come and join in with the rest of the group is important.

”Roy (Hodgson) and myself work very closely every time there’s a squad announced and clearly Luke and Calum have been around the senior squad already.

”The fact it’s a play-off game Roy was keen that those who he didn’t think would start for him were with us. That’s the joined-up thinking we’re trying to put in place.

”The boys have to come and have the desire to come and do that. They understand the situation because getting to the finals is important.”