Next 20 Round-Up: Rising star Redmond picks up England accolade
Kick It Out’s ‘Next 20’ initiative involves players from across the Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Women’s Super League, who represent the organisation as ambassadors and help to spread the key messages of equality and inclusion.
Ross Hobart provides the latest update from the 2016-17 season, as our ambassadors make their impression on the pitch.
Nathan Redmond received international recognition on Monday as he was named England’s Under-21 Player of the Year, picking up 32% of votes from England Supporters Club members.
The award comes off the back of a successful year at international level for Redmond, as he played a crucial part in squad that won the 2016 Toulon Tournament.
The accolade will have provided a boost to the forward, whose Southampton side were knocked out of the FA Cup on the weekend; Redmond appeared as a 65th minute substitute as the Saints lost 5-0 to Arsenal.
A brace from Danny Welbeck and a hat-trick from Theo Walcott saw the Gunners ease past the EFL Cup finalists, whilst Carl Jenkinson was an unused substitute for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Premier League leaders Chelsea joined Arsenal in the fifth round thanks to a 4-0 win over Championship side Brentford. Goals from Willian, Pedro, Branislav Ivanovic and Michy Batshuayi saw the Blues defeat their London rivals in a game where two of our ambassadors, Nathaniel Chalobah and Romaine Sawyers, both featured.
Ben Davies enjoyed a rare start for Tottenham Hotspur as they came from behind twice to snatch a 4-3 victory over League Two Wycombe Wanderers. Paul Hayes’ brace saw the visitors go into the interval two goals to the good, but the Chairboys were soon pegged back thanks to goals from Son Heung-min and Vincent Janssen.
Substitute Garry Thompson headed Gareth Ainsworth’s side into the lead once more, before late goals from Dele Alli and Son made sure Spurs avoided a giant-killing. Davies’ fellow ambassador Michael Harriman was an unused substitute for Buckinghamshire side.
Blackburn Rovers captain Jason Lowe led his side into the last 16 of this year’s Emirates FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Blackpool. Sam Gallagher headed in the opener from Lowe’s cross, before Elliott Bennett doubled the lead with a superb long-range strike.
Harry Maguire came on as a 10th minute replacement for the injured Curtis Davies, as Hull City crashed out the cup at the hands of Fulham. The Cottagers secured a 4-1 win thanks to goals from Sone Aluko, Chris Martin, Ryan Sessegnon and Stefan Johansen, allowing Slavisa Jokanovic’s side reach the fifth round for the first time since 2011.
In League One, Daniel Powell appeared as a late substitute for MK Dons as they thrashed Peterborough 4-0 at the ABAX Stadium. Harvey Barnes put the Dons ahead on his debut, before a Kieran Agard goal and a brace from Chuks Aneke saw Robbie Neilson’s side claim the points and move up to 15th in the table.
Elsewhere, Gael Bigirimana was an unused substitute for struggling Coventry City as they lost 3-0 to Northampton Town at Sixfields.
Wes Foderingham was part of a Rangers side that moved up to second place in the Scottish Premiership after beating Motherwell 2-0 at Fir Park. Kenny Miller opened the scoring before Emerson Hyndman doubled the lead, in a game where both sides finished with 10 men.
Jordan Nobbs captained England to a 0-0 draw with Sweden in a warm-up game for this summer’s European Championships in the Netherlands.