Davis understands reason for early exit

Sean Davis admits David Platt did him a favour by substituting him after just over half an hour of England Under-21s' European Championship campaign.

The 22-year-old Fulham midfielder was booked by Hungarian referee Attila Hanacsek after six minutes of Friday's opener against Switzerland and then penalised at regular intervals thereafter, leaving Platt to decide he had no option but to take his most combative midfielder out of the firing line with just 34 minutes gone – before the match official did it for him – much to the player's disappointment.

However, it later dawned on Davis that his manager had got it right, and his decision had preserved his chances of playing in tonight's clash with Italy. He said: "I was a bit frustrated when I came off, but after seeing the whole second half and seeing it through the manager's eyes, it was a good decision at the time because the referee probably would have sent me off."

Platt's gamble to dispense with Davis so early in the opening fixture paid off as his side ran out 2-1 winners in Zurich. He now seems certain to be handed the task of trying to nullify the threat represented by Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

Platt has only one injury problem, goalkeeper Stephen Bywater having returned home with a wrist problem he picked up in training earlier this week. York City's Russell Howarth, who only learned of his call-up as he drove home from the Under-20s' trip to Toulon last night, was due to meet up with the squad yesterday.

Platt was giving little away, but midfielder Jermaine Pennant could make way as he attempts to add steel in midfield, while Alan Smith could return to a striking role with David Prutton and Scott Parker hoping for starts.