Portman Road will be hosting international football next month when England take on Lithuania at Under-21 level.

Gareth Southgate’s young lions face the current leaders of Group 1 of the European Championship qualifiers at Ipswich Town’s ground on October 15, with kick-off at 6pm.

It will be the first international game Blues have hosted since England’s U21s drew 2-2 with Moldova in August 2006.

Three years earlier Portman Road saw David Beckham and co in action for England’s senior team in a 3-1 win over Croatia in a friendly.

“We are delighted we have been chosen to host this prestigious game. It’s fantastic news for Ipswich Town Football Club,” Town’s joint managing director Ian Milne told the club website.

“It will be a chance for our supporters to watch some of the most exciting young players in the country in action for the national team.”

England U21 boss Gareth Southgate added: “I’m really looking forward to this game.

“Whenever we take our matches all around the country, the reaction of supporters has been brilliant.

“I think we’ll be seeing an exciting group of young players who people will look forward to going to watch.

“It’s great news for us because I think we’ll get a very good crowd there, they’ll be very supportive.

“They’ve got a crowd that are knowledgeable about their football too, so that will be a real lift for us as a team.”

The game is likely to see a first return to Portman Road for Connor Wickham, who left Blues to join Sunderland in the summer of 2011. The former Town academy graduate has been a regular in the England U21 squad over the past year.

England’s senior team complete their World Cup qualifying campaign with a home game against Poland at Wembley on the same night, with that match set to be screened on a big screen in the Legends bar at Portman Road.

Tickets for the match are priced at £10 for adults; £5 for under 16s and £5 for over 65s.

Family tickets are available at £20 for two adults/two children, with advanced group discounts available.