Garbutt gets England buzzing

With Stuart Pearce watching from the stands, it was appropriate that a left-back was England's hero in their opening UEFA European Under-17 Championship fixture against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Vital goal
Luke Garbutt, who does not turn 16 until later this month, showed the same eye for goal as the former senior captain with the powerful finish ten minutes from time that cancelled out Oguzhan Özyakup's early strike and secured a 1-1 Group B draw in Gera. And just like when Pearce memorably converted a penalty in the EURO '96™ quarter-final shoot-out against Spain, Garbutt did not hold back with his emotions and neither did his team-mates.

'Quite surreal'
"It's indescribable really, the joy," Garbutt told uefa.com. "And everybody coming up to me, it's quite surreal really." And the second-youngest player of the 144 involved in the finals in Germany was more than happy to relive his first major competition goal for England. "It was brilliant," the Leeds United AFC defender said. "I got it at my feet and I thought, just hit the target. And luckily it went in. All the lads are buzzing."

Comeback
Garbutt only broke into the U17 team this spring, so naturally was delight to be handed a start by manager John Peacock against the Netherlands. "Obviously I was pleased with the gaffer saying, 'You're starting,' because it was my first objective to get in the team, and to score is an added bonus." Although Garbutt and his fellow defenders were under the cosh early on, they fought back in style. "We gradually got into the game, at half-time we regrouped and the gaffer said keep going, because in the last 20 minutes we were on top."

Honour
Next up for England are hosts Germany on Saturday in Jena, and Garbutt is delighted to be involved. "It's really good," he said. "There are a lot of young kids playing football who'd love to play for their country, especially in a European championship, so I'm pretty honoured really." Though, of course, Garbutt – having already played for Leeds' reserves – may be forgiven for also having his mind on the first leg of his club's promotion play-off at Millwall FC on Saturday. Garbutt declared: "Good luck to all the lads and I hope we get promoted!"