SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley is being considered for an England under 21 call-up.

The young shot-stopper has made an impressive start to the new League Two season, keeping two clean sheets in four outings.

And Echosport can now reveal he was watched by scouts from the international set up at Carlisle United on Saturday.

Bentley was not called in to action too often during the 1-1 draw at Brunton Park but saved smartly from Jack Marriott at the start of the second half and will now hope to have done enough to be named in Gareth Southgate's next squad for their next UEFA Championship qualifiers.

England head to both Lithuania and Moldova at the start of the September but Bentley will face fierce competition for a place in the travelling party.

Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who has spent time on loan with Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil and Doncaster Rovers was selected in the last squad along with Stoke City's Jack Butland.

The 21-year-old has also spent time on loan at a number of Football League clubs and was Great Britain's goalkeeper at the London 2012 Olympics.

Watford goalkeeper Jonathan Bond is also in consideration having been included in previous squads.

Bentley will therefore be hard pushed to be included but has now lined up 70 times for the Shrimpers and is more experienced than both Johnstone and Bond.

Blues boss Phil Brown has already backed Bentley for a career at international level.

But should he be included in the next under 21 squad Bentley would be unavailable for Southend's game against Oxford at Roots Hall on Saturday, September 6.

Another Shrimpers goalkeeper is already celebrating another international call up after Ted Smith was selected in England's under 19 squad for their game in Germany at the start of September.

The former King John School pupil previously played for the under 18s last season.