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Rio Ngumoha once again caught the eye as both he and Trey Nyoni impressed for England U19s against Lithuania on Wednesday.
The Liverpool pair started as the Young Lions got their UEFA U19 Euro 2026 qualifying campaign underway in Raudondvaris, with Ngumoha doing his growing reputation no harm at all as he bagged an assist during a 2-0 win.
After Shumaira Mheuka converted from the penalty spot when Arsenal’s Max Dowman was brought down during the first half, Ngumoha turned provider for the Chelsea striker after the break, weaving into the box before laying the ball on a plate for Mheuka to grab his second.
Ngumoha would be substituted later on in the second half, while Nyoni played the full 90 minutes in a team that also featured the likes of Sunderland’s Chris Rigg and Manchester United loanee Harry Amass.
It was another huge step in the right direction for Ngumoha, who has already done plenty to impress at Liverpool in recent months. The 17-year-old has become a regular in Arne Slot’s squads this season, with his stoppage-time winner at Newcastle back in August the highlight of his burgeoning career so far.
Wednesday’s game though will have also come as a major boost to Nyoni, who has found minutes a little harder to come by with the senior team this season.
The 18-year-old faced a tricky couple of games before heading out on international duty, having started Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup before donning the captain’s armband for the U19s’ 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid last week.
"He is in a difficult space right now, and it's about keeping him confident and managing his expectations of his involvement in the first team,” Liverpool U21s head coach Rob Page said of Nyoni after the game against Real.
"But it is a difficult space for a young player. He is still a young lad, don't forget, and he's had involvement in the first team from an early age.
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"Now it's about managing his minutes, giving him game time, but also maintaining the standards he has set as well. If you ask him, he's probably fallen a bit below that for whatever reason but we will get him back on track. He is a talented, talented footballer."
Both Ngumoha and Nyoni will likely be in action again before the end of the international break, with England U19s playing another two games while out in Lithuania.
Will Antwi’s side faces Latvia on Saturday, November 15 before taking on Scotland on Tuesday, November 18, having put themselves top of their qualifying group following Wednesday’s victory.
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