Euro 2012: England will benefit from youth - James Milner

International football friendly

  • Venue: Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo
  • Date: Sat 26 May
  • Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Commentary BBC Radio 5 live; text commentary BBC Sport website

Midfielder James Milner believes England will benefit from their influx of youngsters at Euro 2012.

Roy Hodgson has selected 11 players who have never featured in a major tournament for the full national side - meaning they will not be scarred by the bad memories of previous failures.

England's new boys

Goalkeeper

  • John Ruddy

Defenders:

  • Leighton Baines
  • Gary Cahill
  • Phil Jones
  • Joleon Lescott

Midfielders:

  • Stewart Downing
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • Scott Parker
  • Ashley Young

Strikers:

  • Andy Carroll
  • Danny Welbeck

"They go in fresh and don't have those negative thoughts," Milner said.

"Maybe the disappointments do wear you down. Now we have that mix of younger players who haven't gone through that."

Milner feels Manchester City's contingent are still on a high after winning the league title for the first time in 44 years.

The midfielder, 26, is one of a quartet of City players in Roy Hodgson's squad.

He believes the 10-day break between the end of the season and joining up with the national team should prove beneficial.

Milner added: "It was important to get over the finale to the season emotionally. You feel pretty drained with the emotions of what went on.

"With the amount of games a lot of the lads have had this season, to give them five or six days' rest was a positive thing.

"There is a a different feel around the squad now than before."