ENGLAND U21s captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis is looking forward to playing in a more favourable atmosphere at the Vitality Stadium tonight after travelling with Southampton last month.

Harwood-Bellis will captain the Young Lions at a sold-out Dean Court against Ukraine in the European Championship qualifiers.

The Saints centre back played all 90 minutes in the Premier League in September as he saw his side defeated 3-1 in a comfortable victory for Cherries.

Harwood-Bellis told the Daily Echo ahead of the game that the players become used to playing in a range of grounds where they may have experienced hostile atmospheres with their clubs.

“It's good to play in different stadiums with a different atmosphere,” he said.

“It will be different to the one we played at Bournemouth for Southampton. So, it'll be nice to have people supporting you.”

(Image: Adam Davy/PA) The 22-year-old is looking forward to what will be a big game for England, as they face the only team that are above them in their qualifying group.

Ukraine have won each of their eight games in the campaign to date, while England have won six, losing just once to the team they play at Dean Court.

On the test the Young Lions face, Harwood-Bellis said: “They're a good side.

“Obviously, they beat us away, so we know what we're coming up against. They're a good side, an organised team and we've worked hard this week, prepared properly, so we should have enough to hopefully go win the game.”

On his visit to the Vitality with Southampton, Harwood-Bellis got himself on the scoresheet with what turned out to be just a consolation goal, although it did spark some hopes of a Southampton comeback in the second half.

Asked about his personal goalscoring threat, he said: “Obviously it's not my first thought going into every game, but it'd be nice to get my name on the score sheet tomorrow and hopefully keep a clean sheet first and then we'll go from there.”

England face Ukraine at 7.45pm tonight at the Vitality Stadium.