Jack Hinshelwood and James Beadle kept the Euros link alive as they helped the champions open their next qualifying campaign with a win.
The [Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/) duo were the only survivors from the team which won this summer’s final in Slovakia as England Under-21s opened their 2027 European Championship qualifying campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Kazakhstan in Aktobe.
They now have plenty of time to complete the 2,600-mile trip home and prepare for league action at the weekend.
Hinshelwood will be with Albion at Bournemouth while on-loan Beadle will join up with Birmingham City away to Stoke City.
The Young Lions struck twice in five minutes during the first half through Ethan Nwaneri and Jobe Bellingham as Lee Carsley’s new-look squad laid down an early marker in Group D.
Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong and forward Divin Mubama, on loan at Stoke from Manchester City, were handed their debuts while Bellingham – who was away at the Club World Cup with Borussia Dortmund during the summer – took on the captaincy.
England made a bright start as Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who had come off the bench in the final, sent in a low cross from the right, which Mubama could only stab straight at the Kazakhstan keeper.
After Beadle made a straightforward save from Ayan Baidavletov, England went ahead in the 18th minute.
Mubama knocked down a high ball into the penalty area and Arsenal midfielder Nwaneri – another of Carsley’s successful summer squad – drilled in a low shot from the edge of the box.
England struck again five minutes later when Bellingham got up to head in from Tyler Dibling’s corner.
Nwaneri went close to a third just before half-time when his 20-yard free-kick was palmed away by Kazakhstan keeper Dulat Talyspayev.
Kazakhstan pressed at the start of the second half, with Ramazan Bagdat forcing Beadle into a smart reaction save.
England next face a trip to Moldova in October’s internationals before hosting Andorra at Derby.