GARETH SOUTHGATE has told former Middlesbrough team-mate Paul Ince that his son, Tom, is wrong to turn his back on appearing for England Under-21s at the Riverside Stadium in ten days time.

Southgate, the head coach of the Under-21s, was back in the region yesterday to reveal his squad for the double header with Czech Republic next Friday and then the friendly with Germany on Teesside on March 30.

While Boro youngsters Ben Gibson and Patrick Bamford will be meeting up with the 24-man squad, Ince has shocked the Football Association by informing them that he did not want to be called up.

Southgate, who played with Paul Ince for England and Middlesbrough, said: “I have had discussions with Tom and his dad over the last week or so and he has decided he does not want to be considered for the Under-21s.

“I have to say I was surprised. He has obviously been a regular for us all the way through the campaign. But he feels at this moment in time he has got some priorities at club level. There is some uncertainty about where he is going to be at club level next season.

“He’s been a good member of the squad and I’ve enjoyed working with him. Only time will tell if it is good decision on his part. I don’t think it is my position to convince people to come.”

Southgate is putting together a pool of players he feels can attack the European Championships in style this summer and would have liked to have had Ince at his disposal.

The 23-year-old has been a key member of the squad in qualifying and has been in good form for Boro after moving there on loan from Chelsea. The decision he has taken, though, could cost him a place at the finals and his longer term international ambitions.

“I have taken on board what they have said, but I now have to look after the rest of the group and the guys who are fully committed to being with us,” said Southgate.

“I have spoken with both. The message from both was exactly the same. I have said to Tom and Paul they need to be aware of the possible consequences of this decision in terms of how it would appear from the outside. I think they understand that.

“I think it is important Tom is allowed to articulate exactly how it feels. He will not be involved in the summer now. That’s because he has been through qualifying and I assumed he would have wanted to put himself on this big stage.

“It’s a great opportunity for all of these young players but on this occasion it is not going to be the case.”

Southgate will not have Tottenham striker Harry Kane in his squad after his call-up to Roy Hodgson’s full England squad, but Bamford will hope to figure along with West Brom’s Saido Berahino, Burnley’s Danny Ings and Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson.

The Middlesbrough forward has scored 16 goals since arriving on loan from Chelsea and has secured victories over Derby and Ipswich in the last two matches. He could be lining up alongside Boro team-mate Gibson next week in an England shirt.

Southgate said: “I’m looking forward to the game, I have learned a lot over the last eight years since taking over the job at Boro. It’s going to be nice to come back.

“Ben is a homegrown player who has developed in our group as well. He has become a very good defender and a mainstay in the side here even though there are a lot of loan players. It’s testament to his character and his development.

“We always knew when he was a 15-year-old, when I first met him, that he was going to have a special character and that has shown.

“And Patrick has really flourished on loan here. At a big club like Chelsea he was always going to have to tread the loan path and then he had to show he can perform on that stage and he is doing that, like he did last season with MK Dons and Derby.”

But Sunderland striker Connor Wickham has a lot of work to do to get back in to Southgate’s thinking.

The head coach said: “The door is open. We have had a few lads involved who are not involved at the moment. Injuries can get players back in.

“With Connor, I have selected him a couple of times and he hasn’t come. After that it is down to form with your club whether or not you get back in. Ings, Bamford ... these lads have earned their places in the squad.”

Under-21s squad: Goalkeepers: Marcus Bettinelli (Fulham), Jonathan Bond (Watford), Jack Butland (Stoke City)

Defenders: Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Garbutt (Everton), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham, loan from Arsenal), Michael Keane (Burnley), Liam Moore (Brentford, loan from Leicester City), John Stones (Everton), Matt Targett (Southampton).

Midfielders: Tom Carroll (Swansea City - loan from Tottenham), Nathaniel Chalobah (Reading, loan from Chelsea), Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Hughes (Derby County), Jesse Lingard (Derby County - loan from Manchester United), Alex Pritchard (Brentford - loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).

Forwards: Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough - loan from Chelsea), Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Danny Ings (Burnley), Callum Wilson (AFC Bournemouth).