United midfielder Lewis Cook has been named in the England Under-19s squad for their forthcoming European Championship elite round fixtures in Spain.

Aidy Boothroyd’s Young Lions side travel to Seville later this week to take on Greece, Georgia and current holders Spain in elite round Group 1, with a place at this summer’s showpiece tournament in Germany at stake for the winner of each group.

England’s elite round campaign gets underway next Thursday against Georgia, they then face Greece the following Saturday before meeting hosts Spain on Tuesday March 29 in a match which is likely to prove decisive in booking a place at July’s full competition.

Cook will link up with his international team-mates shortly after Saturday’s Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town, and the 19-year-old has his sights set on progressing beyond next week’s games to achieve qualification for the Euros.

“We’ve got Spain, Georgia and Greece and I think all three of them will be a challenge,” he said.

“One team goes through from the elite round to the Euros in the summer, so it’ll be a big few games for us. But I’m confident that we can get the job done.

“Playing these three games in a short space of time is quite intense, but it’s no different to the Championship – playing Saturdays and Tuesdays.

“Three games in six days is quite tough, but I’m quite used to it.

“We’ve got to take each game as it comes. All three teams are good teams, but hopefully we’ll do well.

“Everyone in our squad has got a lot of talent, it’s a good team. I feel like we’re strong and we’ve got to know each other over the years.

“We can really express ourselves and put in some good team performances.”

Cook, a key part of England Under-17s’ European Championship-winning squad just under two years ago in Malta, has 24 caps to his name across various youth levels with the national team and has established himself with the U19s since making his debut last March.

The York-born midfielder has already featured 37 times in all competitions for United so far this season on the back of an impressive breakthrough campaign which saw him claim the club’s Young Player of the Year award and the Football League’s LFE Apprentice of the Year award.

Beyond his possible involvement at this summer’s European Championships, Cook has ambitions of one day becoming a fully-capped international player and plans to continue working tirelessly to fulfil that dream.

“It’s always good representing your country – you can never say no to that,” he said.

“It’s every boy’s dream to be in the senior team and hopefully one day I can get there.

“I’ve just got to do well for my club each week and then do the same for my country when I go away with them.

“I’ve got to keep working hard, playing my football and trying to be consistent. I’ve also got to enjoy it.”