Carshalton-born and former Sutton United player Jake Clarke-Salter has scored on his England under-21debut during a nail-biting 2-1 win over Romania at the weekend.

The 20-year-old defender, currently on loan to relegation-threatened Championship club Sunderland from Chelsea, headed home on 73 minutes during the Cyrille Regis International match last Sunday (March 24).

But he also admits modelling his game after former Blues and England captain in John Terry.

Clarke-Salter said: “I grew up watching JT [John Terry] at Chelsea.

“He is a quality defender. He can do both; organise and play technically. He is someone I look up to and try to imitate him.

“He gave me a lot of good advice at Chelsea.”

Romania threatened to erase the Young Lions’ lead when Valentin Costache scored six minutes after Clarke-Salter did, but an earlier goal from Leicester City’s Demarai Gray was enough to see them through.

England under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd praised his squad despite the close-run affair.

The former Watford manager said: “Some of our stuff was breathtaking at times. Young players like coming to England [the national squad], it gives them a little break from the hurly-burly of the Championship or the Premier League.

“It’s nice they can come with us and feel they can relax, play expansive football, entertain and win.

“Romania are top of their group and that includes Portugal and the Welsh, who always have a good go so we’re pleased we’ve got the result.”

The friendly was staged in honour of former footballer Cyrille Regis, the third black player to be capped by England, who died at 59 in January earlier this year.

England’s under-21s entertain Ukraine today (March 27) in a European Under-21 Championship qualifiers before taking on the Netherlands and Latvia in September.