We look ahead to a busy few days of international football which includes England taking on the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is narrowing down his squad before announcing his final 23 on May 14th, and one man who is back in the frame is Manchester United winger, turned full-back, Ashley Young. The 32-year-old has impressed for the Red Devils in his new position, and hopes that results in a place on the national squad. With a look at that and more, here is Mike Fox.

When Ashley Young took to the field for England against Brazil last November, it was his first international appearance in four years. Now the 32-year-old is looking like his county's first choice left back going into Russia. A forgotten man in the three Lions line up, he now looks set to keep his place after finding himself in the unfamiliar territory of left back for Jose Mourinho's Manchester United after the Portugese's of the more natural left back Luke Shaw has left the 22-year-old out in the cold for club and country.

ASHLEY YOUNG MANCHESTER UNITED & ENGLAND DEFENDER "I've played in a few different positions and I think versatility these days for a modern player is important. Playing in different positions, so many different systems that managers want to play so you've got to adapt and I think I've got a good footballing brain to be able to do that. For us, especially at United, the way we play with our fullbacks. We play forward. He (Mourinho) wants the full-backs to get forward so me being a former winger, it's easy to be honest."

Boss Southgate has included Burnley duo Nick Pope and James Tarkowski, Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson and Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook for the first time but Young believes his experience in the England set-up could prove to be vital in a tournament environment.

ASHLEY YOUNG MANCHESTER UNITED & ENGLAND DEFENDER "Obviously, your experience (is important) when the younger players want to ask questions and any questions that they've got I am always willing to answer and help them whenever I can. But, this group of players have been fantastic and the way they qualified for the World Cup was fantastic. As long as you're performing, and as long as I can perform as well as I can do (then) hopefully I'll be going."

Meanwhile Brazil's talisman Neymar will miss the match with Russia as the star is still recovering from a foot injury with Brazil's team doctor saying on Tuesday the PSG striker's recovery "is going well". Without Neymar, Juventus winger Douglas Costa could make a rare start for the 'Selecao'. But Costa's Juve teammate Alex Sandro has been forced to withdraw from the squad with a muscle problem. Despite the injury list, Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro admits the Neymar's absence will affect their team's tactics, but they have plenty of depth to make up for it.

CASEMIRO REAL MADRID & BRAZIL MIDFIELDER "Of course, the absence of Neymar would be an issue for any team. We know he's a great player and he will be missed. But the group of players that we have allows a replacement to come in and fill the void, because we have players with great ability. Even though it is inevitable to recognise that the level of skills that Neymar has is sure to be missed because of the great player that he is."

Elsewhere Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi joined up with the squad ahead of their friendly against Italy in Manchester on Friday. Jorge Sampaoli's side trained at Manchester City's facility where Messi was joined by Hebei Fortune midfielder Javier Mascherano and Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain. City striker Sergio Aguero looks set to miss out on home turf he recovers from a knee injury. Messi has been in fine form for Barcelona this season, helping the Catalan club to an 11-point lead in La Liga and to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League. Friday's friendly is the first of two tune-ups for Argentina ahead of this summer's World Cup. The South American powerhouse will face Spain in Madrid four days later.

Also in action on Friday are World Champions Germany who host Spain. Scotland, under new boss Alex McLeish welcome Costa Rica. Morocco are in Serbia, France face off against Columbia and Portugal play Egypt. Mike Fox CGTN.