Mason Greenwood left our of England U-21s due to injuries and personal issues, admits Aidy...

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Aidy Boothroyd has revealed Mason Greenwood was not picked for England Under-21s due to injuries and “a lot of things going on in his life”. The Manchester United forward, 19, was dropped from the senior squad last month after having female guests at the team hotel, breaking Iceland coronavirus rules, during the previous international break. “When Gareth (Southgate) spoke to Ole (Gunnar Solsjkaer) about the players in and around the senior team, it was felt from Man United that the best course of action would be for him to sit out this one,” said Boothroyd. “He’s had a lot of niggling injuries and a lot of things going on in his life and so I take my lead off those two guys and at this moment in time he hasn’t made this particular squad or the senior squad but having worked with him and knowing the character he is, I’m sure he will bounce back and be in and around it come March.” Boothroyd is set to give an Under-21 debut to Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala in Friday’s European Championship qualifier against Andorra at Molineux. Musiala also qualifies for Germany but their head head of academy coaching Meikel Schonweitz says England have won the race for the teenager, who moved from Chelsea a year ago and scored for Bayern’s first team this season. "Not least because of his involvement with the DFB in the past, we have of course been concerned with Jamal Musiala and showed him what we can offer,” said Schonweitz. “However, he has clearly signaled to us that he currently sees his future with England. We accept his decision and wish him all the best for his sporting career." Boothroyd, whose team have qualified for next year’s finals, will be without Jude Bellingham, as he has moved up to the seniors, and Ryan Sessegnon after Hoffenheim asked him to return to Germany to quarantine. “The whole point of Jude going up is for him to get a feel of it and Gareth getting a look first hand,” said Boothroyd. “You don’t really know someone until you’ve worked with them. It’s down to Gareth whether he stays there or comes back with us. If he does come back he’ll have plenty of tales to tell and have a view of being a senior. If he plays then great.”

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